Model Reports 5 min read Updated 18 Oct 2026

Dacia Duster 2013: reliability & common MOT faults

In 2025, 56 in every 100 first MOTs on a 2013 Dacia Duster were passes. Most common reason for a fail: Headlight aim.

Summary

At the same mileage, a diesel 2013 Dacia Duster passed first time more often than a petrol one: 56 in every 100 against 50 in every 100.

At a glance

How 5,613 first tests went in 2025.

Passed first time
56 in every 100
Did not pass first time
44 in every 1002,478 failed first-attempt tests
The typical car
12 yearsabout 89,382 miles
First tests counted
5,613

What failed most often

  1. Headlight aim12 in every 100 failed tests
  2. Drive shaft joints and boots (front)10 in every 100 failed tests
  3. Track rod end (front)9 in every 100 failed tests

How we count this. Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Only Class 4 cars on their first MOT of the year are counted. A car that fails and is fixed at the test station still counts as a fail in the first-attempt rate. These are raw results, not adjusted for age, mileage, or peer mix. The MOT does not test engine or gearbox internals.

Note:

These are patterns across 2013 Dacia Duster vehicles in 2025, not a prediction that any one car will have them. Faults are grouped by part of the car. A wear pattern follows age and use more than the way the car was built. They come from MOT defect codes, not manufacturer bulletins, recalls or a diagnosis of any one car.

Lamps and electrical

Two faults. The strongest is the hazard warning switch: 12 times as often as on similar cars.

Figures below are measured across the 2,475 of 2,478 failed first attempts (99.9%) that recorded an odometer reading in 2025. Mileage is needed to compare like with like.

We only list faults with at least 20 failures and a rate of about 2.0 times that of similar cars, which keeps one-off results out of the list.

Hazard warning switch

Failed on 70 first tests12 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

What it means

A hazard warning switch that is inoperative is Major, while one that is faulty or insecure is Minor. The lamps must work from one switch only, with the engine or ignition switch both on and off.

Horn

Failed on 101 first tests3.7 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

What it means

A horn that does not work, or is likely to be confused with an emergency vehicle siren, is graded Major. Gongs, bells, sirens and anything with more than one tone, which includes a horn that alternates between its notes, are not allowed, except a gong, bell or siren on vehicles first used before a set date. Sound defects are Minor for named cases such as a bell or harsh sound, and Major under a general row.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.

Brakes

Three faults and one wear pattern. The strongest is the rigid brake pipes (front): 10 times as often as on similar cars.

Rigid brake pipes (front)

Failed on 171 first tests10 times as often as similar carsStrong evidence

What it means

Chafing, corrosion or damage to a rigid brake pipe justifies rejection once its wall thickness is reduced by a set amount, although DVSA accepts this is not easy to determine. If a tester is not sure, the benefit of the doubt applies. A leaking pipe or connection is graded Dangerous on a hydraulic system and Major on an air system.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 381 first tests, 6.9 times as often as on similar cars.

Rigid brake pipes (rear)

Failed on 199 first tests7.2 times as often as similar carsStrong evidence

What it means

Chafing, corrosion or damage to a rigid brake pipe justifies rejection once its wall thickness is reduced by a set amount, although DVSA accepts this is not easy to determine. If a tester is not sure, the benefit of the doubt applies. A leaking pipe or connection is graded Dangerous on a hydraulic system and Major on an air system.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 431 first tests, 5.2 times as often as on similar cars.

Brake discs (front)

Failed on 118 first tests2.7 times as often as similar carsWear pattern

What it means

A brake disc or drum must be significantly worn before it is rejected, and being worn below the manufacturer's recommended limits is not a reason in itself. Significantly and obviously worn is Major, as is contamination with oil or grease. A disc or drum that is fractured, insecure, seriously weakened or missing is graded Dangerous.

Brake performance (roller test, rear)

Failed on 126 first tests2.3 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

A wheel with no recorded braking effort on the roller test is graded Dangerous. Inadequate effort, a brake grabbing severely, abnormal lag and excessive fluctuation in effort are each Major. So is significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied, which indicates a binding brake.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage. Advisories count notes recorded on failed first tests only.

Suspension

Three faults. The strongest is the anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (rear): 7.1 times as often as on similar cars.

Anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (rear)

Failed on 50 first tests7.1 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

What it means

Excessive wear on an anti-roll bar linkage ball joint is Major. A joint likely to become detached is graded Dangerous.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 41 first tests, 5.1 times as often as on similar cars.

Shock absorbers (rear)

Failed on 133 first tests2.4 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

Slight seepage that leaves a film of fluid on a shock absorber does not fail it. Severe leakage, or damage so that it does not function, is Major. A shock absorber missing or likely to become detached is graded Dangerous, though a missing one is only rejected if shock absorbers were fitted as standard.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 200 first tests, 2.5 times as often as on similar cars.

Anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (front)

Failed on 125 first tests2.3 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

Excessive wear on an anti-roll bar linkage ball joint is Major. A joint likely to become detached is graded Dangerous.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage. Advisories count notes recorded on failed first tests only.

Seat belts and restraints

One fault: airbag warning light, 2.3 times as often as on similar cars.

Airbag warning light

Failed on 84 first tests2.3 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

The airbag warning lamp (SRS MIL in DVSA's wording) is failed only if it indicates a system malfunction, which is Major. A lamp lit to show the passenger airbag is disabled is not to be regarded as a defect. Dashboard messages are not a defect in their own right, though they can help the tester confirm a malfunction.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.

Body and structure

One fault: drive shaft joints and boots (front), 2.1 times as often as on similar cars.

Drive shaft joints and boots (front)

Failed on 248 first tests2.1 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

A constant velocity boot that is only severely deteriorated is Minor. It is Major once it is missing, split or insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. A transmission joint excessively worn is Major, and graded Dangerous when it is so worn it is likely to fail.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.

Advisories

Other things testers noted as worn or close to failing, more often than on similar cars.

An advisory is a note from the tester about something that has not failed yet. It is an early warning, not a fail. Advisories for the faults above are shown with those faults.

Propeller shaft

Noted on 33 first tests62 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

Seat belt mounting area (front)

Noted on 29 first tests56 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

Suspension mounting area (front)

Noted on 40 first tests21 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Coil spring (front)

Noted on 372 first tests9.3 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Suspension sub-frame mounting area (rear)

Noted on 44 first tests8.1 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Suspension mounting area (rear)

Noted on 97 first tests8.0 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Power steering pipes and hoses

Noted on 23 first tests7.2 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Counts cover advisories recorded on failed first tests only, compared with cars of the same age and mileage.

MOT pass rates

How first tests ended, and how the pass rates are counted.

Passed first time
56in every 100
Passed on the first test.
Fixed at the station
8in every 100
Failed, then fixed at the test station the same day.
Failed
36in every 100
Did not pass, and were not fixed at the test station.

First-attempt pass 55.9% of 5,613 first tests (2025): only cars that passed first time count. Official-style pass 63.8%: cars fixed at the test station also count as a pass. The 8 fixed and the 36 not fixed make the 44 in every 100 that did not pass first time.

Petrol and diesel

First testsTypical mileagePassed first time, as testedPassed first time, same mileage
Diesel5,10190,692 miles5656
Petrol51176,761 miles5450

Figures are in every 100 first tests. Cars with more miles usually fail more often, so the same-mileage figure gives every fuel the mileage mix of all the cars in this year.

Same model, other years

Passed first time in every 100, all tested in 2025.

40608010020132020Newer cars
40608010020132020Newer cars

Newer cars are younger, so look for a jump rather than the climb. A year earlier (2024), when these cars were a year younger, 57 in every 100 passed first time.

YearPassed first timeFirst tests
2013 This car56 in every 1005,613
201458 in every 1005,176
201561 in every 1005,443
201666 in every 1006,691
201769 in every 1006,081
201871 in every 1008,278
201970 in every 10014,275
202073 in every 1008,028
202179 in every 1008,373
202287 in every 1009,998

If you are buying one

What this year's MOT record means for the decision in front of you.

Mileage matters most on a 2013 Duster.

Of 2013 Duster vehicles with under 64,000 miles, 68 in every 100 passed their 2025 MOT first time. With 118,000 miles or more, 47 in every 100 did.

Under 64,0001,136 tests
68
64,000–82,0001,131 tests
59
82,000–97,000 Typical car1,090 tests
54
97,000–118,0001,158 tests
51
118,000 and over1,093 tests
47

Petrol or diesel?

Typical mileagePassed first time,
as tested		Passed first time,
same mileage
Diesel90,692 miles5656
Petrol76,761 miles5450

Figures are in every 100 first tests. At the same mileage, diesel passed more often (56 against 50 in every 100).

What to check at your mileage

How often each fault turned up on a failed first test, by the car's mileage. Read it as: what is likely to need looking at on a car like the one in front of you.

Under 64,00082,000–97,000118,000 and over
Headlight aim3.75.06.9
Drive shaft joints and boots (front)2.64.64.3
Track rod end (front)2.34.15.3
Individual sidelight or tail light (front)0.52.28.5
Rigid brake pipes (rear)2.52.75.4

Faults per 100 first tests, by the car's mileage at the test.

When a car fails

25in every 100

of failed cars had one item to fix.

50in every 100

of failed cars had three or more items to fix.

9in every 100

of all first tests had a defect the tester marked dangerous (unsafe to drive away).

Every figure here is a first-attempt MOT rate from DVSA open data for this model line, for cars of this model year tested in 2025. Each mileage band holds a fifth of the tests. MOTs do not test engine or gearbox internals, so this is a pre-purchase checklist, not a full reliability score.

FAQs

Short answers about how to read this model-year guide.

At the same mileage, a diesel 2013 Dacia Duster passed first time more often than a petrol one: 56 in every 100 against 50 in every 100. In 2025, 55.9% of 5,613 first MOTs on the 2013 Dacia Duster passed first time (PRS: items fixed at the station the same day, counted as a fail). The official-style rate including PRS is 63.8%. Among 2,478 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Rigid brake pipes (front) appears more often than on similar cars (6.9% of those tests; 171 observed failures; about 10× more often than similar cars). There is no single reliability score here; this is a pre-purchase checklist built from DVSA open data, not a guarantee for any individual car.
Ranked by how often they were actually recorded, the items that most often failed a 2013 Dacia Duster at the first attempt were Headlight aim (12.2%), Drive shaft joints and boots (front) (10.0%) and Track rod end (front) (8.9%), each as a share of the year's failed first attempts. That is what goes wrong most often on the car. The common faults table shows a different measure: faults that are unusual compared with similar cars.
Among failed first-attempt tests we highlight patterns that appear more often than on similar cars. Top example: Rigid brake pipes (front) (6.9% of those tests; 171 observed failures; about 10× more often than similar cars). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Rigid brake pipes (front) shows up more often than on similar cars (6.9% of those tests; 171 observed failures; about 10× more often than similar cars). That does not prove a design fault. Age, mileage, and how the car was used still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase checkpoint, not a manufacturer service bulletin.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2013 Dacia Duster include Rigid brake pipes (front), Hazard warning switch, Anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (rear). These are the faults that stand out compared with similar cars, not a complete list of what can go wrong on any individual car.
Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that appear more often than on similar cars among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.
This page highlights MOT failure patterns for the 2013 Dacia Duster (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are compared with cars of a similar age and mileage. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics, not a full service history or manufacturer service-bulletin list.
No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.

About this data

How this page is built and what it can (and can't) say.

These figures come from UK MOT open data for this model year. We surface common failure patterns against similar cars, not a full reliability score, and not a pass/fail verdict on any individual vehicle.

2024 2025

What we include

UK Class 4 cars only. Normal MOT tests (not retests); first test per vehicle per calendar year; results pass, PRS, or fail.

Same-day repairs

PRS means the car 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.

How we compare

We compare this model year with other Class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year. This model family is left out of the peer group so the car is not measured against itself.

What this does not cover

  • MOTs do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronics; this is not a full reliability score.
  • Common faults come from MOT defect stats, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
  • Age and mileage matching reduces, but does not remove, differences in how cars were used and maintained.
  • If the data for a car is too thin to say anything useful, we say so rather than guess.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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