2013 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 82,080 MOT tests, the 2013 Ford Mondeo recorded a 78.9% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 20.2%, so the 2013 Mondeo sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.5%) and tyres (7.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and track rod end — headlamp aim alone was recorded 4,631 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.9% versus 12.4%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.0pp more often than petrol ones (21.2% vs 16.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 7,780 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.1% | 5,827 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.3% | 5,159 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.3% | 4,389 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.0% | 3,246 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 2,699 |
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 | 4,631 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 4,362 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 3,243 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 3,204 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 2,542 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,098 |
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 | 29.9% | 24,549 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.3% | 22,382 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.6% | 20,171 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 7,778 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.8% | 7,198 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 4,599 |
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 | 628 | 12.4% |
| 30-60k | 6,343 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 18,135 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 23,030 | 21.6% |
| 120-150k | 17,309 | 23.2% |
| 150k+ | 16,603 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 79,448 | 21.2% |
| Petrol | 2,632 | 16.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,186 | 19.4% |
| 2022 | 17,056 | 20.1% |
| 2023 | 16,712 | 21.2% |
| 2024 | 16,078 | 22.2% |
| 2025 | 15,048 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Mondeo
On a 2013 Mondeo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (6.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 Ford Mondeos pass their MOT?
78.9% of the 82,080 2013 Ford Mondeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Ford Mondeo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by tyres (7.1%).
Does the 2013 Mondeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.4% in the 0-30k band to 22.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 82,080 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.