2013 Volkswagen Tr Porter — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Volkswagen Tr Porter passed 81.3% of its 820 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.7%) and suspension (6.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and coil spring — tread depth alone was recorded 39 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 24.2% versus 10.9%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 71 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.5% | 53 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.4% | 44 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.1% | 42 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 31 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 39 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 24 |
| 4 | Washers | 24 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 21 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 14 |
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 | 21.2% | 174 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.5% | 160 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.4% | 159 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 93 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.3% | 60 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.3% | 60 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 101 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 193 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 214 | 19.2% |
| 120-150k | 165 | 23.0% |
| 150k+ | 128 | 24.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 164 | 17.1% |
| 2022 | 164 | 18.3% |
| 2023 | 170 | 19.4% |
| 2024 | 155 | 16.8% |
| 2025 | 167 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Tr Porter
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.5% 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 (5.4% 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.
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 Tr Porters pass their MOT?
81.3% of the 820 2013 Volkswagen Tr Porter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volkswagen Tr Porter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by suspension (6.5%).
Does the 2013 Tr Porter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 30-60k band to 24.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 820 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.