Ford Ka Zetec (2013)
2013 Ford Ka Zetec
CarHunch analysed 121 real MOT records for the 2013 Ford Ka Zetec. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
This 2013 Ford Ka Zetec is a genuine reliability concern, with a first-time pass rate of just 55.5%—a full 24.5 percentage points below the UK average of 80%. The good news is that dangerous defects are extremely rare at 0%, so safety-critical failures aren't the issue here.
At 43,253 miles median, these cars are relatively low-mileage for their age, yet they're still struggling in the MOT bay with an average of 0.5 failures per vehicle and essentially no advisories, suggesting problems tend to be binary—either they pass or they fail outright. If you're considering one, budget for a pre-purchase inspection by a Ford-specialist mechanic and expect to put money into repairs soon after purchase.
What to check before buying a 2013 Ford Ka Zetec
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Ford Ka Zetec
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other (62%) | 75 | 89.6% | 0.8 |
| Petrol (38%) | 46 | 0% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2013 Ford Ka Zetec vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2013 Ford Ka Zetec vehicles fall between 31,493 and 53,103 miles.
2013 Ford Ka Zetec — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 56 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 88% of the peak.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific Ford Ka Zetec?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.