Used car guide

2013 Dacia Duster: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2013 Dacia Dusters, from 5,913 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,913MOT tests in 2025

57%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)

7,500typical miles a year

6.7×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2013 Dacia Dusters than on all cars registered in 2013.

Rigid brake pipes6.7× usual

Dacia Duster
31.3% All 2013 cars
4.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 5.7%, against 0.6% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.
Coil springs2.2× usual

Dacia Duster
19% All 2013 cars
8.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 4% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.
Shock absorbers2.2× usual

Dacia Duster
13.3% All 2013 cars
6%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1.3% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.
Number plate lights1.9× usual

Dacia Duster
11.4% All 2013 cars
6.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1.8% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.
Headlight aim2.2× usual

Dacia Duster
8.2% All 2013 cars
3.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 8.2%, against 3.7% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.5% here, against 8.7% of all 2013 cars.

By area

The share of 2013 Dacia Duster MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Brakes

49% of testsRough price £150–£350

At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
Suspension

47% of testsRough price £120–£400

At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
Tyres

33% of testsRough price £70–£150

At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
Lights and electrics

31% of testsRough price £10–£80

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
Wipers, windscreen and mirrors

12% of testsRough price £15–£250

At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
Exhaust and emissions

8% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Dacia Duster?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2022	10,606	Tyres 24%
2021	8,714	Tyres 26%
2020	8,319	Tyres 27%
2019	14,895	Tyres 31%
2018	8,604	Tyres 31%
2017	6,336	Tyres 31%
2016	6,920	Tyres 30%
2015	5,666	Tyres 31%
2014	5,460	Brakes 45%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2013 Dacia Dusters registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score