Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Vauxhall Vivaro 2013: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2013 Vauxhall Vivaro include Hazard warning — Switch (~28.9× peers) and Pins and bushes (front) (~16.8× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (4,722 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

4,722 failed first-attempt tests · 9,127 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Hazard warning — Switch — about 28.9× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

  • Hazard warning — Switch: about 28.9× more often than similar cars
  • Pins and bushes (front): about 16.8× more often than similar cars
  • Macpherson strut (front): about 11.6× more often than similar cars

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 4,722 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Hazard warning — Switch

This failure pattern appears about 28.9× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 245 failed first-attempt tests; 5.2% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 245 failures · ×28.9 vs similar cars · 5.2% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Pins and bushes (front)

This failure pattern appears about 16.8× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 152 failed first-attempt tests; 3.2% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 152 failures · ×16.8 vs similar cars · 3.2% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Macpherson strut (front)

This failure pattern appears about 11.6× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 238 failed first-attempt tests; 5.0% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 238 failures · ×11.6 vs similar cars · 5.0% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

# Fault pattern Location Failures vs similar cars Share of fails Confidence
1 Hazard warning — Switch
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Hazard warning > Switch
 Any 245 ×28.9 5.2% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2 Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Macpherson strut > Pins and bushes
 Front 152 ×16.8 3.2% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3 Macpherson strut (front)
Suspension > Macpherson strut > Macpherson strut
 Front 238 ×11.6 5.0% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
4 Rigid brake pipes
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
 Any 144 ×8.6 3.0% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
5 Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes
 Front 98 ×7.6 2.1% Likely common fault pattern
6 Rigid brake pipes (rear)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
 Rear 334 ×6.3 7.1% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
7 Pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Pins and bushes
 Rear 244 ×5.3 5.2% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
8 Rigid brake pipes (front)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
 Front 168 ×5.1 3.6% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
9 Track rod end
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
 Any 372 ×4.2 7.9% Likely common fault pattern
10 Track rod end (front)
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
 Front 838 ×3.3 17.7% Likely common fault pattern

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 Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Sub-frames > Pins and bushes
 Front 122 ×20.1 2.6% Likely common fault pattern
2 Cable
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake cables, rods, levers and linkages > Cable
 Any 21 ×13.0 0.4% Likely common fault pattern
3 Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes
 Front 133 ×7.7 2.8% Likely common fault pattern
4 Integral vehicle structure condition (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Integral vehicle structure > Integral vehicle structure condition
 Front 42 ×7.4 0.9% Possible elevated fault
5 Other components
Steering > Power steering > Other components
 Any 39 ×7.1 0.8% Elevated vs peers
6 Chassis condition (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
 Front 33 ×6.9 0.7% Possible elevated fault
7 Seat belts — Condition
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems > Seat belts > Condition
 Any 27 ×6.3 0.6% Elevated vs peers
8 Attachment bracket and mounting (front)
Suspension > Macpherson strut > Attachment bracket and mounting
 Front 25 ×5.9 0.5% Likely common fault pattern

FAQs

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2013 Vauxhall Vivaro on this page. Among 4,722 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Hazard warning — Switch appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 28.9× more often than peers; 245 observed failures; 5.2% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.
Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Hazard warning — Switch (about 28.9× more often than peers; 245 observed failures; 5.2% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Hazard warning — Switch shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 28.9× more often than peers; 245 observed failures; 5.2% of failed tests). That does not prove a causal design fault — age, mileage, and usage still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer TSB.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2013 Vauxhall Vivaro include Hazard warning — Switch, Pins and bushes (front), Macpherson strut (front). These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.
Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that look elevated versus peers 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 elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2013 Vauxhall Vivaro (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are ranked against similar age and mileage peers. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer TSB 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.
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.

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.

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See brand-wide MOT rankings and year guidance for Vauxhall (separate from this model-year report).