Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Vauxhall Adam?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2013 Vauxhall Adam?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2013 Vauxhall Adam?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2013 Vauxhall Adam vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

38% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2013 Vauxhall Adam reliable?

Based on MOT data from 7,916 vehicles, the 2013 Vauxhall Adam has a first-time MOT pass rate of 79.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Vauxhall Adam?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Vauxhall Adam are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (56.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (51.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (45.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 Vauxhall Adam?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Vauxhall Adam (2013)

7,916 real MOT outcomes analysed • 79.2% first-time pass rate

2013 Vauxhall Adam

CarHunch analysed 7,916 real MOT records for the 2013 Vauxhall Adam. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 Vauxhall Adam's 79.2% pass rate sits marginally below the UK average of 80%, which is unremarkable—but the 38.4% of vehicles that have recorded a dangerous defect at some point is a genuine concern and worth factoring into any purchase decision. This suggests structural or safety issues have cropped up across a significant portion of the used population.

At 47,000 miles median, these Adams have been driven conservatively for their age, yet they're accumulating 2.76 failures per vehicle on average, which indicates recurring problems rather than isolated wear items. The high advisory count of 14.9 per car points to persistent minor issues; before buying, get a full pre-purchase inspection and specifically ask a mechanic about any previous MOT failures, as this cohort shows a pattern worth understanding.

The 2013 Vauxhall Adam has a decent first-time pass rate (79.2%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

79.2%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

38.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.76

Over 12.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

47k

Middle half: 36k–60k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 14.9 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 7,916 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 7,916 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 56.8%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 45.4%

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil · Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil · Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 37.6%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 20.9%

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened · Oil leak, but not excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 7,916 Vauxhall Adam cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Vauxhall Adam

Based on MOT data from 7,916 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 38.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	7,913	79.2%	2.76

Colour Breakdown

Based on 59,487 Vauxhall Adam vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 26%

15,493

Red 25.9%

15,381

Blue 21.2%

12,593

Black 13.2%

7,841

Grey 5.4%

3,194

Yellow 3%

1,776

Green 1.8%

1,081

Orange 1.2%

685

Purple 1.1%

652

Gold 0.7%

394

Brown 0.4%

222

Pink 0.3%

175

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Vauxhall Adam vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

47,039

typical

35,607

low mileage

59,649

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Vauxhall Adam vehicles fall between 35,607 and 59,649 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 35,607 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 35,607–59,649 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Vauxhall Adams sit.

⚠ Over 80,526 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Vauxhall Adam — Still on the Road

Almost all 2013 Vauxhall Adams are still on the road.

Strong survival — 7,099 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 93% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.76

Avg failures per vehicle

14.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Vauxhall Adam: All Adam years → Which year to buy? →

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Vauxhall →

Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Vauxhall Adam stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing