2013 Volkswagen Touareg — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Volkswagen Touareg passed 84.4% of its 13,864 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large SUVs of a similar age (16.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 7.9% of tests against 4.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 1,370 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.4% versus 7.8%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.9% | 1,101 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.5% | 626 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 535 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.6% | 362 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 240 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 80 |
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 | 1,370 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 493 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 260 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 226 |
| 5 | Wipers | 134 |
| 6 | Washers | 127 |
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 | 21.9% | 3,031 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.1% | 2,365 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.5% | 1,037 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 1,032 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.5% | 762 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 599 |
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 | 90 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,399 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 4,691 | 14.5% |
| 90-120k | 4,872 | 16.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,131 | 16.7% |
| 150k+ | 678 | 16.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,781 | 13.6% |
| 2022 | 2,809 | 14.3% |
| 2023 | 2,830 | 17.0% |
| 2024 | 2,795 | 17.3% |
| 2025 | 2,649 | 15.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Touareg
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.9% 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 (4.5% 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 (3.9% 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 Touaregs pass their MOT?
84.4% of the 13,864 2013 Volkswagen Touareg MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volkswagen Touareg?
Suspension, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by tyres (4.5%).
Does the 2013 Touareg get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 16.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,864 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.