2013 Mazda 2 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Mazda 2 passed 78.5% of its 54,225 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail at 21.1%, so the 2013 2 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 14.0% of all tests — 7.2 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, coil spring and wipers — ball joint alone was recorded 4,539 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.2% versus 11.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.0% | 7,590 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 3,670 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.6% | 3,040 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.6% | 2,479 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.9% | 1,563 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.3% | 1,240 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 4,539 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 2,597 |
| 3 | Wipers | 2,173 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 1,843 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,568 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,430 |
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 | 28.3% | 15,339 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.4% | 10,547 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.0% | 9,218 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.8% | 5,309 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 2,987 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.2% | 2,268 |
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 | 4,885 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 22,614 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 19,148 | 24.6% |
| 90-120k | 6,089 | 27.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,214 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 270 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,635 | 18.7% |
| 2022 | 10,830 | 20.4% |
| 2023 | 10,866 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 11,005 | 23.2% |
| 2025 | 10,889 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 2
On a 2013 2, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (14.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.6% 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 Mazda 2s pass their MOT?
78.5% of the 54,225 2013 Mazda 2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mazda 2?
Suspension, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.8%).
Does the 2013 2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 32.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 54,225 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.