Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Ford Fiesta?

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 Ford Fiesta?

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 Ford Fiesta?

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 Ford Fiesta vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

43% 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 Ford Fiesta reliable?

Based on MOT data from 121,713 vehicles, the 2013 Ford Fiesta has a first-time MOT pass rate of 79.6%, 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 Ford Fiesta?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Ford Fiesta are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (56.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (54.6% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (39.7% 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 Ford Fiesta?

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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Ford Fiesta (2013)

121,713 real MOT outcomes analysed • 79.6% first-time pass rate

2013 Ford Fiesta

CarHunch analysed 121,713 real MOT records for the 2013 Ford Fiesta. 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 Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 Ford Fiesta petrol is right on par with the UK average at 80.3% first-time pass rate, but the diesel version pulls the overall cohort down to 79.5% with a notably weaker 75.5% pass rate—a significant red flag if you're considering diesel. More concerning, 43% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above acceptable levels and a serious buyer consideration.

These Fiestas are running at a sensible 49,000 miles median for their age, suggesting typical use rather than abuse. The high advisory count of 16.5 per vehicle and 2.73 average failures point to niggling wear issues—suspension, brakes, and exhaust components feature heavily—so budget for maintenance rather than expecting a trouble-free car. Check the full MOT history before buying, and if you find one with no dangerous defects recorded, that's genuinely worth paying a bit extra for.

The 2013 Ford Fiesta has a decent first-time pass rate (79.6%), 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

79.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

43%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.73

Over 12.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

49k

Middle half: 36k–63k

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 16.5 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 121,713 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 121,713 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 56.3%

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

Brake wear 39.7%

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

Suspension & steering 25.7%

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded · Offside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn · …

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

Lighting 15.8%

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working · Offside Stop lamp(s) not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Other issues 14.8%

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread

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 121,713 Ford Fiesta cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 4.7 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

80.3%

Petrol

101,366 vehicles

75.6%

Diesel

20,334 vehicles

Before you buy a 2013 Ford Fiesta

Based on MOT data from 121,713 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 43% 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 (83%)	101,366	80.3%	2.61
Diesel (17%)	20,334	75.6%	3.28

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,807,326 Ford Fiesta vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 24.4%

683,680

Red 18.8%

528,114

Silver 16.9%

473,293

Black 14.9%

418,624

White 11.3%

316,271

Green 5.9%

166,976

Grey 5.4%

152,833

Purple 1.3%

35,536

Yellow 0.3%

9,449

Brown 0.3%

8,774

Orange 0.3%

8,012

Bronze 0.2%

5,764

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Ford Fiesta 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.

49,133

typical

36,191

low mileage

62,786

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Ford Fiesta vehicles fall between 36,191 and 62,786 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 36,191 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.

✓ 36,191–62,786 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Ford Fiestas sit.

⚠ Over 84,761 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Ford Fiesta — Still on the Road

Almost all 2013 Ford Fiestas are still on the road.

Strong survival — 105,781 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 90% 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

12.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.73

Avg failures per vehicle

16.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ford Fiesta: All Fiesta years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Ford Fiesta stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing