Used car guide

2013 Volkswagen Amarok: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2013 Volkswagen Amaroks, from 1,756 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,756MOT tests in 2025

69%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)

10,800typical miles a year

2.5×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2013 Volkswagen Amaroks than on all cars registered in 2013.

Shock absorbers2.5× usual

Volkswagen Amarok
15.1% All 2013 cars
6%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, 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.
Anti-roll bar bushes and joints15.4× usual

Volkswagen Amarok
7.7% All 2013 cars
0.5%

Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.1% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.
Rear fog light6.6× usual

Volkswagen Amarok
4.6% All 2013 cars
0.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 0.6% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Braking performance1.8× usual

Volkswagen Amarok
8.1% All 2013 cars
4.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 1.6% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.
Windscreen2.2× usual

Volkswagen Amarok
6.2% All 2013 cars
2.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£300 our estimate

At the viewing: Check for chips or cracks in the driver's view.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 5.3% here, against 14.3% of all 2013 cars. Brake discs: 5% here, against 13.9% of all 2013 cars.

By area

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

Suspension

31% 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.
Lights and electrics

24% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

24% 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.
Tyres

21% 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.
Wipers, windscreen and mirrors

10% of testsRough price £15–£250

At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
Oil and fluid leaks

7% of testsRough price £80–£600

At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Volkswagen Amarok?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2020	1,570	Tyres 19%
2019	2,951	Brakes 19%
2018	2,530	Brakes 20%
2017	2,086	Brakes 23%
2016	2,353	Suspension 24%
2015	2,608	Suspension 28%
2014	2,131	Suspension 31%
2012	1,182	Suspension 34%
2011	540	Lights and electrics 37%

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