2013 Jeep Wrangler — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Jeep Wrangler passed 79.5% of its 1,104 recorded MOT tests. Against large SUVs of a similar age (16.6% fail rate), the 2013 Wrangler comes out 3.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests against 9.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and side repeaters — headlamp aim alone was recorded 104 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.5% once past 120-150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 190 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.2% | 101 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.9% | 43 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 35 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.2% | 24 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.6% | 18 |
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 | 104 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 54 |
| 3 | Side repeaters | 49 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 48 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 39 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 33 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.8% | 218 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.8% | 130 |
| 3 | Tyres | 10.1% | 111 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.9% | 98 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 78 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.4% | 60 |
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 | 71 | 19.7% |
| 30-60k | 366 | 12.0% |
| 60-90k | 378 | 23.8% |
| 90-120k | 215 | 27.0% |
| 120-150k | 53 | 24.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 939 | 20.3% |
| Petrol | 165 | 21.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 190 | 16.3% |
| 2022 | 211 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 219 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 246 | 24.0% |
| 2025 | 238 | 22.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Wrangler
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.2% 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.
- Visibility (3.9% 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.
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 Jeep Wranglers pass their MOT?
79.5% of the 1,104 2013 Jeep Wrangler MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Jeep Wrangler?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by brakes (9.2%).
Does the 2013 Wrangler get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.7% in the 0-30k band to 24.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,104 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.