2013 Ford Mustang — MOT failures & pass rate
549 MOT tests on the 2013 Ford Mustang are in this dataset, and 89.4% of them passed. That is 4.4 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 14.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.8% of tests against 2.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 18 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 2.7% in the 0-30k band and 18.4% in the 90-120k band, a 15.7-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.0% in 2021 to 10.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 32 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.5% | 14 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.2% | 12 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.0% | 11 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 11 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 10 |
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 | 18 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 12 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 9 |
| 4 | Wipers | 8 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 7 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 6 |
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 | 11.8% | 65 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.5% | 52 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.7% | 48 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 30 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.9% | 16 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 14 |
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 | 150 | 2.7% |
| 30-60k | 189 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 142 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 49 | 18.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 77 | 13.0% |
| 2022 | 114 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 121 | 10.7% |
| 2024 | 120 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 117 | 10.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Mustang
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.5% 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.
- Tyres (2.2% 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.
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 Mustangs pass their MOT?
89.4% of the 549 2013 Ford Mustang MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Ford Mustang?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by brakes (2.5%).
Does the 2013 Mustang get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.7% in the 0-30k band to 18.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 549 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.