2013 Mazda 6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Mazda 6 passed 80.1% of its 26,665 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 20.2%, so the 2013 6 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 9.9% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, tread depth and brake pads — ball joint alone was recorded 1,604 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.3% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.5pp more often than petrol ones (20.8% vs 17.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 25.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.9% | 2,639 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.1% | 1,626 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.9% | 1,315 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 1,220 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 799 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 642 |
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 | 1,604 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 743 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 678 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 568 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 552 |
| 6 | Wipers | 539 |
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 | 25.8% | 6,882 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.2% | 6,710 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.0% | 6,132 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.4% | 2,519 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 1,056 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.3% | 887 |
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 | 327 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,457 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 8,194 | 17.2% |
| 90-120k | 8,477 | 22.4% |
| 120-150k | 4,540 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,667 | 24.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 19,248 | 20.8% |
| Petrol | 7,417 | 17.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,608 | 15.9% |
| 2022 | 5,606 | 18.1% |
| 2023 | 5,478 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 5,162 | 21.5% |
| 2025 | 4,811 | 23.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 6
On a 2013 6, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (9.9% 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.
- Brakes (6.1% 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.
- Tyres (4.9% 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 6s pass their MOT?
80.1% of the 26,665 2013 Mazda 6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mazda 6?
Suspension, recorded in 9.9% of tests, followed by brakes (6.1%).
Does the 2013 6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 24.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,665 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.