2013 Volkswagen Up — MOT failures & pass rate
114,151 MOT tests on the 2013 Volkswagen Up are in this dataset, and 86.2% of them passed. Against city cars of a similar age (19.2% fail rate), the 2013 Up comes out 5.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.3%) and brakes (5.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and wipers — service brake performance alone was recorded 3,863 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.9% versus 7.7%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 7,136 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.0% | 5,737 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.6% | 4,065 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.5% | 4,036 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.0% | 3,402 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 2,598 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 3,863 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,528 |
| 3 | Wipers | 2,921 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,558 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,971 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 1,946 |
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 | 25.4% | 28,933 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.5% | 17,707 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.5% | 8,608 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.5% | 8,579 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 3,633 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 3,238 |
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 | 17,588 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 49,133 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 34,035 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 10,478 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,266 | 23.1% |
| 150k+ | 622 | 24.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 113,994 | 13.8% |
| Electric | 147 | 6.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,072 | 11.5% |
| 2022 | 22,395 | 12.6% |
| 2023 | 22,816 | 14.1% |
| 2024 | 23,263 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 23,605 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Up
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.0% 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.
- Visibility (3.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 Ups pass their MOT?
86.2% of the 114,151 2013 Volkswagen Up MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volkswagen Up?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by brakes (5.0%).
Does the 2013 Up get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 24.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 114,151 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.