2013 Fiat -Trail — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Fiat -Trail passed 92.2% of its 3,222 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (20.1% fail rate), the 2013 -Trail comes out 12.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.2%) and visibility (2.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, outline marker lamp and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 92 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 12.0% versus 7.8%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 9.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 167 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.3% | 73 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.2% | 70 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.3% | 41 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.2% | 40 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 92 |
| 2 | Outline marker lamp | 66 |
| 3 | Wipers | 66 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 47 |
| 5 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 41 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 32 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 9.7% | 311 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.8% | 155 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.8% | 153 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 137 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 65 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.7% | 55 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 2,102 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,070 | 7.8% |
| 60-90k | 50 | 12.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 650 | 6.8% |
| 2022 | 648 | 7.4% |
| 2023 | 648 | 7.2% |
| 2024 | 632 | 8.1% |
| 2025 | 644 | 9.8% |
What to check before buying a 2013 -Trail
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (2.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2013 Fiat -Trails pass their MOT?
92.2% of the 3,222 2013 Fiat -Trail MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Fiat -Trail?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by visibility (2.3%).
Does the 2013 -Trail get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 12.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,222 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.