Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Nissan Cabstar?

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 Nissan Cabstar?

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 Nissan Cabstar?

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 Nissan Cabstar vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

67% 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 Nissan Cabstar reliable?

Based on MOT data from 707 vehicles, the 2013 Nissan Cabstar has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67.5%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Nissan Cabstar?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Nissan Cabstar are: Parking brake efficiency below requirements (95.3% of vehicles), Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (66.6% of vehicles), Oil leak, but not excessive (45.7% 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 Nissan Cabstar?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Nissan Cabstar (2013)

707 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67.5% first-time pass rate

2013 Nissan Cabstar

CarHunch analysed 707 real MOT records for the 2013 Nissan Cabstar. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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 Nissan Cabstar is a significantly weaker performer than the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 67.5% against the national 80%—a real red flag for reliability. More concerning, two-thirds of these vehicles (66.6%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is substantially higher than typical and should give any prospective buyer serious pause.

At 74,543 miles average, these Cabstars show typical mileage for their age, yet they're racking up 4.56 failures and 28.5 advisories per test—well above what you'd expect from a work vehicle of this vintage. If you're considering one, insist on a full service history and a pre-purchase inspection by a diesel specialist, as the cumulative weight of failures suggests these vans face persistent mechanical issues rather than isolated problems.

The 2013 Nissan Cabstar has a below-average first-time pass rate (67.5% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

67.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

66.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.56

Over 13.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

70k

Middle half: 48k–97k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 28.5 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 707 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 707 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 95.3%

Parking brake efficiency below requirements · Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value · Service brake efficiency below requirements · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 66.6%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Oil leak, but not excessive · Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction

Tyre wear 45%

Nearside Front 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.

Suspension & steering 39.8%

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · …

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

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 707 Nissan Cabstar cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Nissan Cabstar

Based on MOT data from 707 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 66.6% 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
Diesel (100%)	706	67.5%	4.57

Colour Breakdown

Based on 28,350 Nissan Cabstar vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 53.5%

15,164

Blue 20.7%

5,869

Red 15.5%

4,404

Silver 5.9%

1,662

Grey 2%

557

Green 1%

275

Yellow 0.6%

166

Black 0.5%

136

Orange 0.2%

Maroon 0.1%

Cream 0.1%

Beige 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Nissan Cabstar 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.

70,101

typical

48,400

low mileage

96,802

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Nissan Cabstar vehicles fall between 48,400 and 96,802 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 48,400 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.

✓ 48,400–96,802 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Nissan Cabstars sit.

⚠ Over 130,682 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Nissan Cabstar — Still on the Road

Most 2013 Nissan Cabstars are still being driven.

494 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 74% of the peak remain.

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

13.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.56

Avg failures per vehicle

28.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Nissan Cabstar: All Cabstar years → Which year to buy? →

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Nissan Cabstar stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on