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

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 Mustang?

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 Mustang?

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.

Is the 2013 Ford Mustang reliable?

Based on MOT data from 160 vehicles, the 2013 Ford Mustang has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.7%, 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 Mustang?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Ford Mustang are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (26.8% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (23.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (17.7% 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 Mustang?

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 Mustang (2013)

160 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.7% first-time pass rate

2013 Ford Mustang

CarHunch analysed 160 real MOT records for the 2013 Ford Mustang. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2013 Ford Mustang is a genuinely reliable proposition, with an 88.7% first-time pass rate that beats the UK average of 80% by a clear margin. The dangerous defect rate sits at 11.2%, which is comfortably below the 20% threshold where real concern kicks in—these cars aren't throwing up safety red flags.

These Mustangs are running at around 45,000 miles on average, which is modest for a 2013 and suggests relatively gentle use across the cohort. Owners are averaging 0.72 failures per test and 3.6 advisories, meaning minor wear items crop up but serious problems are rare—when shopping for one, a pre-purchase inspection focusing on suspension and brake condition (the usual advisory culprits) will catch any neglected maintenance quickly.

We have limited data for the 2013 Ford Mustang — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

88.7%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

11.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.73

Over 6 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

44k

Middle half: 19k–64k

For context

These stats describe 160 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.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 160 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 26.8%

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

Brake wear 10.5%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear 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 5.2%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Exhaust & emissions 4.5%

Exhaust noisy

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 160 Ford Mustang cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Ford Mustang

Based on MOT data from 160 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 11.3% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Ford Mustang 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.

44,474

typical

19,090

low mileage

63,968

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Ford Mustang vehicles fall between 19,090 and 63,968 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 19,090 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.

✓ 19,090–63,968 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Ford Mustangs sit.

⚠ Over 86,356 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 Mustang — Still on the Road

Almost all 2013 Ford Mustangs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 91 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 97% 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.73

Avg failures per vehicle

3.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

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

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