Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Pulse Bt?

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 Pulse Bt?

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 Pulse Bt?

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 Pulse Bt reliable?

Based on MOT data from 170 vehicles, the 2013 Pulse Bt has a first-time MOT pass rate of 78.6%, 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 Pulse Bt?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Pulse Bt are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (28.9% of vehicles), Steering headbearing has slight free play (14.7% of vehicles), Headlamp aim too low (9.6% 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 Pulse Bt?

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

Pulse Bt (2013)

170 real MOT outcomes analysed • 78.6% first-time pass rate

2013 Pulse Bt

CarHunch analysed 170 real MOT records for the 2013 Pulse Bt. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2013 PULSE BT falls just slightly below the UK average with a 78.5% first-time pass rate against the national 80%, suggesting broadly typical reliability for its age, though the 12.9% rate of dangerous defects is worth noting as a minor buyer concern. With a median mileage of just under 4,000 miles, these vehicles have been lightly used, which partly explains the relatively modest failure count of 0.64 per car.

The low mileage means you're likely looking at occasional-use vehicles, yet they still average 2.0 advisories each—usually minor wear items rather than serious faults. Before purchase, request a full MOT history to check whether advisories have been addressed, as this lightly-driven cohort should have fewer accumulated wear issues than higher-mileage alternatives.

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

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

78.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

12.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.64

Over 2.4 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

Middle half: 2k–6k

For context

These stats describe 170 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 170 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 28.9%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 14.7%

Steering headbearing has slight free play · Steering headbearing has excessive free play · Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil · …

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

Lighting 9.6%

Headlamp aim too low · Headlamp not working on dipped beam · Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working · …

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Exhaust & emissions 4.7%

Exhaust noisy · Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Brake wear 3.7%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Rear Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel

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

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 170 Pulse Bt cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Pulse Bt

Based on MOT data from 170 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 12.9% 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 Pulse Bt 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.

3,987

typical

2,150

low mileage

6,403

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Pulse Bt vehicles fall between 2,150 and 6,403 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 2,150 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.

✓ 2,150–6,403 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Pulse Bts sit.

⚠ Over 8,644 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Pulse Bt — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 18% of 2013 Pulse Bts are still active.

Numbers are declining — 17 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (18% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2022.
* 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

2.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.64

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Pulse Bt: All Bt years → Which year to buy? →

2014

Or browse all models: Pulse →

Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Pulse Bt stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?