2013 Hyundai Ix35 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 68,376 MOT tests, the 2013 Hyundai Ix35 recorded a 76.0% pass rate. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (20.2% fail rate), the 2013 Ix35 comes out 3.8pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (11.1%) and lighting & signalling (10.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, position lamp and tread depth — track rod end alone was recorded 5,678 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.1% versus 12.7%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 23.4% of the time against 24.1% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.1% | 7,558 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 7,280 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.9% | 4,734 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.5% | 4,470 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.1% | 4,187 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 2,420 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 5,678 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 3,686 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 3,151 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 3,036 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 3,014 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 2,516 |
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 | 28.7% | 19,656 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.4% | 19,433 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.4% | 9,831 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.5% | 7,885 |
| 5 | Steering | 9.1% | 6,205 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 5,610 |
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 | 1,006 | 12.7% |
| 30-60k | 13,099 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 29,365 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 18,466 | 27.6% |
| 120-150k | 5,186 | 29.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,247 | 29.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 59,307 | 24.1% |
| Petrol | 9,069 | 23.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,682 | 21.2% |
| 2022 | 13,864 | 22.7% |
| 2023 | 13,838 | 24.2% |
| 2024 | 13,625 | 25.2% |
| 2025 | 13,367 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Ix35
On a 2013 Ix35, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (11.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.9% 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 Hyundai Ix35s pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 68,376 2013 Hyundai Ix35 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Hyundai Ix35?
Brakes, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.7%).
Does the 2013 Ix35 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.7% in the 0-30k band to 29.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 68,376 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.