2013 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 87,355 MOT tests, the 2013 Volkswagen Transporter recorded an 81.6% pass rate. That is 6.0 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 24.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.2%) and lighting & signalling (7.8%) 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 washers — coil spring alone was recorded 3,147 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.8% versus 9.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.2% | 7,177 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 6,798 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.9% | 4,261 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.6% | 3,984 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.5% | 3,925 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 1,372 |
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 | 3,147 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,053 |
| 3 | Washers | 2,773 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 2,430 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,345 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,891 |
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 | 21.6% | 18,897 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.3% | 18,565 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.0% | 18,343 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 10,294 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.4% | 6,496 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.2% | 6,311 |
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 | 1,454 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 10,344 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 21,408 | 16.6% |
| 90-120k | 22,727 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 16,081 | 21.2% |
| 150k+ | 15,331 | 21.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 87,148 | 18.4% |
| Petrol | 202 | 21.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,051 | 16.3% |
| 2022 | 17,203 | 17.2% |
| 2023 | 17,504 | 18.9% |
| 2024 | 17,772 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 17,825 | 20.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Transporter
On a 2013 Transporter, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 Transporters pass their MOT?
81.6% of the 87,355 2013 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volkswagen Transporter?
Suspension, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.8%).
Does the 2013 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 21.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 87,355 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.