Vauxhall Combo 2013: reliability & common MOT faults
Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2013 Vauxhall Combo include Prescribed areas (~21.0× peers) and Pedal (~7.4× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (1,243 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.
Common faults
These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).
Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.
Based on 1,243 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.
Prescribed areas
This failure pattern appears about 21.0× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 30 failed first-attempt tests; 2.4% of failed tests for this model year.
Any · 30 failures · ×21.0 vs similar cars · 2.4% of failed first tests · Likely common fault pattern
Pedal
This failure pattern appears about 7.4× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 34 failed first-attempt tests; 2.7% of failed tests for this model year.
Any · 34 failures · ×7.4 vs similar cars · 2.7% of failed first tests · Likely common fault pattern
No patterns met the strongest callout thresholds on this page; showing the highest-lift rows that still cleared the display floors.
| # | Fault pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Prescribed areas
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems > Seat belts > Prescribed areas
|
Any | 30 | ×21.0 | 2.4% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 2 |
Pedal
Brakes > Service brake pedal or hand lever > Pedal
|
Any | 34 | ×7.4 | 2.7% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 3 |
Macpherson strut (front)
Suspension > Macpherson strut > Macpherson strut
|
Front | 37 | ×6.4 | 3.0% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 4 |
Emissions not tested
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Compression ignition > Emissions not tested
|
Any | 26 | ×3.7 | 2.1% | Possible elevated fault |
| 5 |
On or after 01/07/2008
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Compression ignition > On or after 01/07/2008
|
Any | 74 | ×3.6 | 6.0% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 6 |
Exhaust system (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
|
Rear | 48 | ×3.5 | 3.9% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 7 |
Electrical equipment — Horn
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Electrical equipment > Horn
|
Any | 47 | ×3.0 | 3.8% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 8 |
Side repeaters
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Side repeaters
|
Any | 55 | ×2.7 | 4.4% | Possible elevated fault |
| 9 |
Malfunction indicator lamp
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Compression ignition > Malfunction indicator lamp
|
Any | 81 | ×2.5 | 6.5% | Possible elevated fault |
| 10 |
Coil spring (front)
Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring
|
Front | 214 | ×2.3 | 17.2% | Possible elevated fault |
Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).
Advisories
Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.
| # | Advisory pattern | Location | Notes | vs similar cars | Share | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Headlamp (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Headlamps > Headlamp
|
Front | 45 | ×7.7 | 3.6% | Elevated vs peers |
| 2 |
Headlamp
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Headlamps > Headlamp
|
Any | 21 | ×5.4 | 1.7% | Elevated vs peers |
| 3 |
Exhaust system (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
|
Rear | 75 | ×4.8 | 6.0% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 4 |
Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Macpherson strut > Pins and bushes
|
Front | 22 | ×2.8 | 1.8% | Elevated vs peers |
| 5 |
Road Wheels — Condition (front)
Road Wheels > Condition
|
Front | 33 | ×2.7 | 2.7% | Elevated vs peers |
| 6 |
Individual direction indicators (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators
|
Rear | 43 | ×2.7 | 3.5% | Elevated vs peers |
| 7 |
Pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Pins and bushes
|
Rear | 55 | ×2.3 | 4.4% | Elevated vs peers |
| 8 |
Engine oil leaks
Noise, emissions and leaks > Fluid leaks > Engine oil leaks
|
Any | 217 | ×2.1 | 17.5% | Elevated vs peers |
FAQs
About this data
Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.
PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).
Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.
Limitations.
- MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
- Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.
Display rules config: 1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.