2013 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 79,022 MOT tests, the 2013 Volkswagen Passat recorded a 79.8% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 20.2%, so the 2013 Passat sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.1%) and tyres (7.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and coil spring — pins and bushes alone was recorded 4,886 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.9% versus 9.5%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.5pp more often than petrol ones (20.3% vs 14.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 29.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.1% | 8,014 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.8% | 6,162 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 4,946 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.1% | 3,237 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.2% | 1,709 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 1,629 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 4,886 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3,483 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 2,972 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,790 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,546 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 1,540 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 29.9% | 23,615 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.1% | 22,974 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.5% | 17,008 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.9% | 7,045 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 3,399 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 2,278 |
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 | 559 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 5,677 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 17,003 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 21,544 | 20.5% |
| 120-150k | 16,543 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 17,687 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 78,005 | 20.3% |
| Petrol | 1,017 | 14.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,494 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 16,227 | 19.0% |
| 2023 | 15,928 | 20.2% |
| 2024 | 15,578 | 21.7% |
| 2025 | 14,795 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Passat
On a 2013 Passat, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.1% 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.
- Tyres (7.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (6.3% 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 Passats pass their MOT?
79.8% of the 79,022 2013 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volkswagen Passat?
Suspension, recorded in 10.1% of tests, followed by tyres (7.8%).
Does the 2013 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 22.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 79,022 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.