At a glance
How 2,677 first tests went in 2025.
- Passed first time
- 53 in every 100
- Did not pass first time
- 47 in every 1001,245 failed first-attempt tests
- The typical car
- 12 yearsabout 112,518 miles
- First tests counted
- 2,677
What failed most often
- Coil spring (front)17 in every 100 failed tests
- Suspension arm pins and bushes (front)10 in every 100 failed tests
- Individual sidelight or tail light (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.
These are patterns across 2013 Vauxhall Combo vehicles in 2025, not a prediction that any one car will have them. Faults are grouped by part of the car. They come from MOT defect codes, not manufacturer bulletins, recalls or a diagnosis of any one car.
Seat belts and restraints
One fault: seat belt mounting area, 21 times as often as on similar cars.
Figures below are measured across the 1,243 of 1,245 failed first attempts (99.8%) 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.
Seat belt mounting area
What it means
A seat belt anchorage likely to become detached in the event of a collision is graded Dangerous. The load bearing structure near an anchorage, called a prescribed area, is Major when its strength or continuity is significantly reduced or it is inadequately repaired. Anchorage points are inspected for all seat belts fitted, except a belt with no corresponding seat.
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.
Brakes
One fault: brake pedal, 7.4 times as often as on similar cars.
Brake pedal
What it means
A brake pedal rubber worn smooth is not a defect, and nor is a worn design pattern on an aftermarket rubber. A pedal with no rubber is rejected if its grooves or raised grip sections are worn smooth, unless the vehicle was made without them. Insufficient reserve travel is Major, but a vehicle is failed for it only if the pedal or lever is touching the floor or handlebar.
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.
Suspension
Two faults. The strongest is the macpherson strut (front): 6.4 times as often as on similar cars.
Macpherson strut (front)
What it means
Many MacPherson strut top bushes are designed to have significant lateral play when the suspension hangs free, so a top bush is rejected only when the play comes from wear or maladjustment. A top bush or bearing with excessive wear or free play is Major. Rubber or synthetic bushes are rejected only for serious deterioration of the bonding or flexible material.
Coil spring (front)
What it means
A missing bump stop rubber is not a reason to fail a coil spring. When the vehicle is jacked and lowered, a spring that does not correctly locate as the suspension returns to its normal running position is rejected as insecurely attached. A missing spring is Major, and graded Dangerous where directional control is affected.
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.
Noise, emissions and leaks
Three faults. The strongest is the diesel emissions not tested: 3.7 times as often as on similar cars.
Diesel emissions not tested
What it means
An emissions test on a diesel that is unable to be completed is graded Major. The failure wording 'not tested' carries the same Major grade.
Diesel emissions test (compression-ignition rules for vehicles from 01/07/2008)
Diesel engine warning light
What it means
An engine malfunction indicator lamp that is illuminated to show a malfunction is graded Major on a diesel, but only on the diesels the test covers, which depends on the vehicle type and when it was first used. DVSA lists it under exhaust emissions for compression ignition engines, and the detail line for the row also names an inoperative lamp.
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.
Body and structure
One fault: exhaust system (rear), 3.5 times as often as on similar cars.
Exhaust system (rear)
What it means
Exhaust fumes causing a danger to health of persons on board are graded Dangerous, and so is a silencer likely to become detached. Fumes entering the cabin are Major. One or more missing or defective mountings does not necessarily make the exhaust insecure, since testers assess the overall security of the system.
Also noted as an advisory
Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 75 first tests, 4.8 times as often as on similar cars.
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage. Advisories count notes recorded on failed first tests only.
Lamps and electrical
Two faults. The strongest is the horn: 3.0 times as often as on similar cars.
Horn
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.
Side repeater indicators
What it means
Sequential or dynamic direction indicators are not a reason to fail. Where a side repeater is required, it is allowed to be part of the front direction indicator if it has a marked wraparound lens, or an amber light coming through the front lens when viewed from a set distance to the side of the rear bumper. A lens defect with no effect on the emitted light is Minor, and one that adversely affects the light is Major.
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.
Headlight (front)
Macpherson strut pins and bushes (front)
Wheel condition (front)
Individual direction indicators (rear)
Suspension arm pins and bushes (rear)
Engine oil leaks
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
- 53in every 100
- Passed on the first test.
- Fixed at the station
- 9in every 100
- Failed, then fixed at the test station the same day.
- Failed
- 38in every 100
- Did not pass, and were not fixed at the test station.
First-attempt pass 53.5% of 2,677 first tests (2025): only cars that passed first time count. Official-style pass 61.9%: cars fixed at the test station also count as a pass. The 9 fixed and the 38 not fixed make the 47 in every 100 that did not pass first time.
Same model, other years
Passed first time in every 100, all tested in 2025.
Newer cars are younger, so look for a jump rather than the climb.
| Year | Passed first time | First tests |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 48 in every 100 | 361 |
| 2003 | 47 in every 100 | 1,015 |
| 2004 | 47 in every 100 | 1,384 |
| 2005 | 50 in every 100 | 1,546 |
| 2006 | 46 in every 100 | 2,438 |
| 2007 | 46 in every 100 | 3,248 |
| 2008 | 48 in every 100 | 3,965 |
| 2009 | 48 in every 100 | 3,040 |
| 2010 | 53 in every 100 | 5,390 |
| 2011 | 57 in every 100 | 6,371 |
| 2012 | 51 in every 100 | 2,424 |
| 2013 This car | 53 in every 100 | 2,677 |
| 2014 | 55 in every 100 | 4,193 |
| 2015 | 57 in every 100 | 4,558 |
| 2016 | 58 in every 100 | 4,647 |
| 2017 | 60 in every 100 | 3,339 |
| 2018 | 66 in every 100 | 2,772 |
| 2019 | 73 in every 100 | 14,954 |
| 2020 | 74 in every 100 | 12,793 |
| 2021 | 72 in every 100 | 11,422 |
| 2022 | 74 in every 100 | 6,161 |
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 Combo.
Of 2013 Combo vehicles with under 82,000 miles, 59 in every 100 passed their 2025 MOT first time. With 144,000 miles or more, 50 in every 100 did.
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 82,000 | 103,000–122,000 | 144,000 and over | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coil spring (front) | 10.8 | 6.2 | 8.2 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes (front) | 3.0 | 4.3 | 6.9 |
| Individual sidelight or tail light (front) | 1.9 | 3.7 | 5.0 |
| Headlight aim | 0.9 | 4.1 | 3.5 |
| Brake light | 3.0 | 3.4 | 4.7 |
Faults per 100 first tests, by the car's mileage at the test.
When a car fails
of failed cars had one item to fix.
of failed cars had three or more items to fix.
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.
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.
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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