2013 Vauxhall Ampera — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,359 MOT tests analysed for the 2013 Vauxhall Ampera, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 80.2% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (81.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 22.9% in the 150k+ group versus 12.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 97 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.5% | 88 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 73 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.9% | 66 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 66 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.9% | 53 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 79 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 65 |
| 3 | Side repeaters | 43 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 41 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 38 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 35 |
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 | 29.0% | 394 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.1% | 314 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.4% | 114 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 105 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 87 |
| 6 | Suspension | 6.3% | 86 |
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 | 31 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 228 | 16.2% |
| 60-90k | 377 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 402 | 22.9% |
| 120-150k | 225 | 23.6% |
| 150k+ | 96 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 287 | 20.9% |
| 2022 | 280 | 19.6% |
| 2023 | 274 | 19.7% |
| 2024 | 260 | 16.9% |
| 2025 | 258 | 21.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Ampera
Before buying a 2013 Vauxhall Ampera, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 7.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (7.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.4% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Vauxhall Amperas pass their MOT?
80.2% of the 1,359 2013 Vauxhall Ampera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Vauxhall Ampera?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by tyres (6.5%).
Does the 2013 Ampera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 22.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,359 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.