2013 Volkswagen Scirocco — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 27,110 MOT tests, the 2013 Volkswagen Scirocco recorded an 80.4% pass rate. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (14.7% fail rate), the 2013 Scirocco comes out 4.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.5%) and tyres (8.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 1,071 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.9% in the 0-30k band and 26.1% in the 150k+ band, a 18.2-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 17.4% fail against 20.4% for diesel, a 3.0-point gap across 27,110 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 2,586 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.0% | 2,155 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 1,899 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.9% | 1,314 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 792 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 466 |
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 | 1,071 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,036 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 973 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 859 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 584 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 508 |
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 | 28.0% | 7,576 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.5% | 5,838 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.9% | 5,398 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 2,051 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.9% | 1,597 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 1,199 |
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 | 406 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 4,416 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 10,426 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 7,979 | 22.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,858 | 23.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,025 | 26.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 19,934 | 20.4% |
| Petrol | 7,176 | 17.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,385 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 5,400 | 18.0% |
| 2023 | 5,443 | 19.9% |
| 2024 | 5,450 | 20.9% |
| 2025 | 5,432 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Scirocco
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (8.0% 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.
- Suspension (7.0% 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.
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 Sciroccos pass their MOT?
80.4% of the 27,110 2013 Volkswagen Scirocco MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volkswagen Scirocco?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by tyres (8.0%).
Does the 2013 Scirocco get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 26.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,110 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.