Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan?

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 Volkswagen Tiguan?

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 Volkswagen Tiguan?

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 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

33% 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 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?

Based on MOT data from 12,869 vehicles, the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.1%, 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 Volkswagen Tiguan?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (55.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (53.6% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (35.6% 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 Volkswagen Tiguan?

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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Volkswagen Tiguan (2013)

12,869 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.1% first-time pass rate

2013 Volkswagen Tiguan

CarHunch analysed 12,869 real MOT records for the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan. 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 Tiguan passes its MOT first time at 85%, a solid 5 percentage points above the UK average, though one in three of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a concern worth taking seriously during any inspection. Petrol models edge ahead at 87.7% versus the diesel's 85%, but the difference is marginal.

At 66,954 miles average for an 11-year-old car, these Tiguans are running slightly high, yet still generating 1.88 failures per test on average, suggesting maintenance hasn't kept pace with mileage. The 15.7 advisories per vehicle point to accumulated wear rather than catastrophic issues, but before you buy one, insist on a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks brake systems, suspension, and emissions equipment—the areas where older Tiguans most often fall short.

The 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan has a decent first-time pass rate (85.1%), 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

85.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

33.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.88

Over 11.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

65k

Middle half: 52k–80k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 85.1% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 15.7 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 12,869 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 12,869 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 55.8%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Brake wear 26.1%

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

Suspension & steering 25.6%

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement

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

Other issues 21.8%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

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 12,869 Volkswagen Tiguan cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan

Based on MOT data from 12,869 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.3% 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
Diesel (97%)	12,431	85%	1.89
Petrol (3%)	436	87.7%	1.41

Colour Breakdown

Based on 196,937 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 24.3%

47,792

Grey 23.4%

46,100

Black 23.2%

45,635

Blue 12.7%

25,003

Silver 11.3%

22,313

Red 2.2%

4,285

Beige 1.5%

2,923

Brown 0.6%

1,158

Green 0.5%

1,023

Purple 0.2%

345

Orange 0.1%

233

Yellow 0.1%

127

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan 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.

65,334

typical

51,753

low mileage

79,881

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles fall between 51,753 and 79,881 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 51,753 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.

✓ 51,753–79,881 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Volkswagen Tiguans sit.

⚠ Over 107,839 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Volkswagen Tiguan — Still on the Road

Almost all 2013 Volkswagen Tiguans are still on the road.

Strong survival — 11,729 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 95% 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

11.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.88

Avg failures per vehicle

15.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Volkswagen Tiguan: All Tiguan years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing