2013 Volkswagen Tiguan — MOT failures & pass rate
74,762 MOT tests on the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan are in this dataset, and 82.0% of them passed. That is 2.3 percentage points better than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 20.3%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 10.7% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, coil spring and tread depth — pins and bushes alone was recorded 4,574 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.8% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (18.1% vs 15.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 29.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.7% | 8,014 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.6% | 4,203 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 3,058 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.2% | 2,362 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 1,593 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 1,126 |
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 | 4,574 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 4,350 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,899 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,331 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,289 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,168 |
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 | 29.7% | 22,205 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.7% | 19,932 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.5% | 16,103 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.6% | 5,721 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 2,817 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 1,978 |
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 | 1,059 | 11.2% |
| 30-60k | 13,393 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 30,095 | 17.1% |
| 90-120k | 20,818 | 20.4% |
| 120-150k | 7,077 | 21.8% |
| 150k+ | 2,315 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 72,560 | 18.1% |
| Petrol | 2,202 | 15.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,730 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 14,844 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 15,051 | 18.1% |
| 2024 | 15,053 | 19.2% |
| 2025 | 15,084 | 20.6% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Tiguan
On a 2013 Tiguan, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.7% 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 (5.6% 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 (4.1% 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 Tiguans pass their MOT?
82.0% of the 74,762 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Suspension, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by tyres (5.6%).
Does the 2013 Tiguan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.2% in the 0-30k band to 23.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 74,762 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.