2013 Nissan 350 Z — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Nissan 350 Z passed 94.0% of its 316 recorded MOT tests. That is 13.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.6%. Failures cluster in tyres, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.5%) and emissions & environmental (1.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, rigid brake pipes and catalyst emissions — tread depth alone was recorded 9 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 350 Z fails 2.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.4% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 12.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.5% | 8 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 6 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.3% | 4 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 3 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.6% | 2 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.6% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 9 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 7 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 5 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 3 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 2 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 2 |
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 | 12.0% | 38 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.0% | 22 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 21 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 13 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 11 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.9% | 6 |
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 | 40 | 2.5% |
| 30-60k | 191 | 5.8% |
| 60-90k | 78 | 6.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 80 | 5.0% |
| 2022 | 75 | 6.7% |
| 2023 | 65 | 4.6% |
| 2024 | 49 | 6.1% |
| 2025 | 47 | 8.5% |
What to check before buying a 2013 350 Z
On a 2013 350 Z, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (2.5% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (1.3% 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 Nissan 350 Zs pass their MOT?
94.0% of the 316 2013 Nissan 350 Z MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Nissan 350 Z?
Tyres, recorded in 2.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.9%).
Does the 2013 350 Z get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.5% in the 0-30k band to 6.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 316 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.