2013 Mitsubishi Colt — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Mitsubishi Colt passed 82.8% of its 3,116 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (21.1% fail rate), the 2013 Colt comes out 3.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.5% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, position lamp and registration plate lamp(s) — wipers alone was recorded 220 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.1% once past 120-150k.
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 — 16.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 358 |
| 2 | Visibility | 7.0% | 217 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.1% | 159 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.6% | 144 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 111 |
| 6 | Brakes | 2.9% | 91 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 220 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 157 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 97 |
| 4 | Joints | 96 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 83 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 79 |
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% | 883 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.1% | 500 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.5% | 483 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.6% | 206 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 168 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 140 |
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 | 447 | 11.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,298 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 953 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 347 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 57 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 639 | 16.1% |
| 2022 | 643 | 17.0% |
| 2023 | 624 | 17.0% |
| 2024 | 613 | 17.5% |
| 2025 | 597 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Colt
On a 2013 Colt, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (7.0% 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.
- Tyres (5.1% 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 Mitsubishi Colts pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 3,116 2013 Mitsubishi Colt MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mitsubishi Colt?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by visibility (7.0%).
Does the 2013 Colt get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.6% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,116 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.