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

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 Leaf?

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 Leaf?

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 Leaf vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

37% 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 Leaf reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,685 vehicles, the 2013 Nissan Leaf 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 Nissan Leaf?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Nissan Leaf are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (2.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (2.7% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (2.4% 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 Leaf?

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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Nissan Leaf (2013)

1,685 real MOT outcomes analysed • 79.6% first-time pass rate

2013 Nissan Leaf

CarHunch analysed 1,685 real MOT records for the 2013 Nissan Leaf. 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 Nissan Leaf's first-time MOT pass rate of 71.6% is noticeably below the UK average of 80%, which is a red flag for reliability. More concerning is that 36.7% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above acceptable levels—suggesting structural, safety, or braking issues are common in this generation.

At nearly 50,000 miles on average, these Leafs have moderate mileage for their age, yet they're averaging 2.26 failures and 13.2 advisories per test, indicating wear is catching up fast. Before buying any 2013 Leaf, insist on a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on the battery condition (degradation is the key risk with older EVs), brakes, and suspension—and consider walking away if you find evidence of previous accident damage or deferred repairs.

The 2013 Nissan Leaf 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)

36.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.26

Over 10.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

47k

Middle half: 34k–61k

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 13.2 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 1,685 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 1,685 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 2.9%

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.

Brake wear 2.1%

Rear 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 1.4%

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn · Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn · …

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 1,685 Nissan Leaf cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Nissan Leaf

Based on MOT data from 1,685 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 36.7% 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
Electric (100%)	1,684	79.6%	2.26

Colour Breakdown

Based on 52,752 Nissan Leaf vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 22.6%

11,926

White 22.3%

11,779

Grey 21.1%

11,132

Red 18.5%

9,785

Silver 8.1%

4,288

Blue 6.4%

3,399

Bronze 0.6%

332

Green 0.1%

Beige 0.1%

Yellow 0%

Maroon 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Nissan Leaf 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.

47,202

typical

34,389

low mileage

61,212

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Nissan Leaf vehicles fall between 34,389 and 61,212 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 34,389 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.

✓ 34,389–61,212 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Nissan Leafs sit.

⚠ Over 82,636 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 Leaf — Still on the Road

Most 2013 Nissan Leafs are still being driven.

Strong survival — 1,154 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 84% 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

10.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.26

Avg failures per vehicle

13.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

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

Watch for defects — worth knowing