2013 Volkswagen Jetta — MOT failures & pass rate
7,091 MOT tests on the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta are in this dataset, and 77.6% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 19.2% of the time, so this is 3.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 14.1% of all tests — 7.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 582 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.7% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.1% | 1,003 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.9% | 487 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 467 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.2% | 367 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 159 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 124 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 582 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 488 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 203 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 193 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 188 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 166 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.3% | 1,935 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.5% | 1,595 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.7% | 1,538 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.9% | 558 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 302 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 236 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 149 | 14.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,476 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,338 | 21.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,548 | 23.1% |
| 120-150k | 800 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 775 | 26.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,646 | 22.7% |
| Petrol | 441 | 18.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,578 | 21.7% |
| 2022 | 1,497 | 21.5% |
| 2023 | 1,441 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 1,345 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 1,230 | 23.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Jetta
On a 2013 Jetta, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (14.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (6.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (6.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2013 Volkswagen Jettas pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 7,091 2013 Volkswagen Jetta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta?
Suspension, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by brakes (6.9%).
Does the 2013 Jetta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 0-30k band to 26.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,091 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.