2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 51.9% of Mercedes-Benz Citans first used in 2013 passed their MOT first time, against 65.8% for all cars first used in 2013. Across 4,414 Citan first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, brakes and suspension.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Mercedes-Benz Citans first used in 2013 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
51.9%
of 1,373 first tests; all cars first used in 2013: 65.8%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
4,414
first tests, 2023–2025; 1,373 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
18.4%
of 1,373 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
129,500
middle half: 102,000–164,000 miles; all cars first used in 2013: 86,500

How the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Citans first used in 2013 against all cars first used in 2013 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Citan figure was 13.9 points lower.

2013 CitanAll cars first used in 2013
50%60%70%80%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2013, test year 2021: 72.1%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2022: 70.3%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2023: 68.3%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2024: 66.8%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2025: 65.8%2013 Citan, test year 2021: 57.2%2013 Citan, test year 2022: 56.2%2013 Citan, test year 2023: 55%2013 Citan, test year 2024: 52.2%2013 Citan, test year 2025: 51.9%65.8%51.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year2013 CitanAll cars first used 2013Citan first tests
202157.2%72.1%1,630
202256.2%70.3%1,616
202355.0%68.3%1,567
202452.2%66.8%1,474
202551.9%65.8%1,373

Common 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan MOT failures

Share of the 2,070 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment48.9%
Brakes33.4%
Suspension32.0%
Body, chassis, structure24.5%
Steering24.1%
Visibility18.4%
Tyres17.6%
Noise, emissions and leaks7.7%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play20.3%420
Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt20.3%420
Stop lamp: not working14.4%299
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded13.8%286
Position lamp: not working13.0%270

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
  3. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.

Common 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2013 Citans, as a share of all 4,414 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material28.5%1,256
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge23.2%1,022
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened15.7%691
Brake pads: wearing thin11.5%508
Track rod end: ball joint has slight play7.3%323

Questions about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan?

In 2025, 51.9% of Citans first used in 2013 passed their MOT first time, against 65.8% for all cars first used in 2013. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2013 Citan most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 48.9% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), brakes (33.4%) and suspension (32.0%). The single most common item was “Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play” (20.3%).

How often does a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan fail its MOT?

In 2025, 48.1% of first tests on Citans first used in 2013 did not pass first time: 39.5% failed, and a further 8.6% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 2,070 of 4,414 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan MOT advisories?

“Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (on 28.5% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (23.2%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (15.7%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (11.5%) and “Track rod end: ball joint has slight play” (7.3%).

Is a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 57.2% in 2021 to 51.9% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2013

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2013 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2013 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2013 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2013 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2013 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics

How the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2013 Citan” means a Mercedes-Benz Citan whose date of first use falls in 2013 (62, 13 and 63 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2013, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.