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

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 Ka?

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 Ka?

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 Ka vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

42% 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 Ka reliable?

Based on MOT data from 19,361 vehicles, the 2013 Ford Ka has a first-time MOT pass rate of 81.8%, 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 Ka?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Ford Ka are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (49.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (48.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (39.5% 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 Ka?

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 Ka (2013)

19,361 real MOT outcomes analysed • 81.8% first-time pass rate

2013 Ford Ka

CarHunch analysed 19,361 real MOT records for the 2013 Ford Ka. 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 Ford Ka's 81.8% pass rate sits just above the UK average, which is reassuring, but the 42% of vehicles that have ever recorded a dangerous defect is genuinely concerning and well above typical levels—this suggests structural or safety issues lurk in a significant minority of the used stock. You should treat any Ka from this year as requiring a pre-purchase inspection, not an optional extra.

At 41,000 miles median, these cars are relatively low-mileage for their age, yet they're averaging 2.39 failures per test and 17.4 advisories, indicating wear and degradation outpacing what mileage alone would predict. Check the MOT history carefully for repeated failure types (suspension, emissions, braking) before committing, and factor in above-average maintenance costs if you proceed.

The 2013 Ford Ka has a decent first-time pass rate (81.8%), 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

81.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

42%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.39

Over 12.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

41k

Middle half: 30k–53k

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 17.4 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 19,361 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 19,361 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 49.8%

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

Suspension & steering 39.5%

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil · Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil · Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · …

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

Brake wear 30.1%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · 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.

Other issues 16.3%

Oil leak, but not excessive

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 19,361 Ford Ka cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Ford Ka

Based on MOT data from 19,361 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 42% 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 (99%)	19,253	81.8%	2.39
Diesel (1%)	99	77.9%	2.75

Colour Breakdown

Based on 676,350 Ford Ka vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 24.7%

167,140

Silver 20%

135,197

Red 18.1%

122,314

Black 17.5%

118,352

White 6.6%

44,483

Green 5.8%

39,238

Grey 3.2%

21,349

Purple 2.1%

14,037

Yellow 0.8%

5,211

Bronze 0.7%

4,801

Gold 0.5%

3,110

Pink 0.2%

1,118

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Ford Ka 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.

41,079

typical

29,699

low mileage

53,222

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Ford Ka vehicles fall between 29,699 and 53,222 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 29,699 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.

✓ 29,699–53,222 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Ford Kas sit.

⚠ Over 71,849 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 Ka — Still on the Road

Almost all 2013 Ford Kas are still on the road.

Strong survival — 17,353 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 92% 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

12.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.39

Avg failures per vehicle

17.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

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

Watch for defects — worth knowing