2013 Volvo C30 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,229 MOT tests, the 2013 Volvo C30 recorded a 78.7% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 19.4% of the time, so this is 1.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.7% of tests against 7.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, pins and bushes and position lamp — joints alone was recorded 367 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.4% in the 0-30k band and 27.8% in the 150k+ band, a 16.4-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.1% fail against 23.6% for diesel, a 5.5-point gap across 6,229 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 664 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.6% | 475 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.4% | 397 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 361 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.1% | 318 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 213 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 367 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 311 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 273 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 234 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 188 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 173 |
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 | 26.4% | 1,642 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.2% | 1,509 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.4% | 1,149 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 843 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 321 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.9% | 303 |
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 | 325 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,605 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,412 | 22.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,321 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 433 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 133 | 27.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,605 | 23.6% |
| Petrol | 2,624 | 18.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,282 | 19.5% |
| 2022 | 1,242 | 20.6% |
| 2023 | 1,247 | 20.9% |
| 2024 | 1,235 | 22.1% |
| 2025 | 1,223 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a 2013 C30
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.6% 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 (6.4% 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 Volvo C30s pass their MOT?
78.7% of the 6,229 2013 Volvo C30 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volvo C30?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by suspension (7.6%).
Does the 2013 C30 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 27.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,229 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.