2013 · 11 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2013 Volkswagen Beetle MOT pass rate and common faults

4,358 MOT tests in 2024. 65.6% passed first time, compared with 66.8% for all cars the same age.

98About average
Passed first time65.6%
Failed or needed repairs34.4%
Typical mileage at test70,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 4,358 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rear fog lamp: not working7.9%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn6.6%
  3. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.9%
  4. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.3%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.5%
    179 marked dangerous
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.1%
  7. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.0%
  8. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.8%
    114 marked dangerous
  9. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.6%
  10. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.6%
    90 marked dangerous

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension16.3%
  2. Lights & electrics14.6%
  3. Brakes11.0%
  4. Tyres8.0%
  5. Body & chassis5.8%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.2%
  7. Emissions & leaks2.1%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.4%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.4%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure12.2%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.9%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened6.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: rear fog lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle?

In 2024, 65.6% of 2013 Volkswagen Beetle cars passed their MOT first time, across 4,358 tests. The average for all 11-year-old cars was 66.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle?

The most common failure reasons were rear fog lamp: not working; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 98, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).