2013 Nissan Cube — MOT failures & pass rate
309 MOT tests on the 2013 Nissan Cube are in this dataset, and 85.8% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (20.9% fail rate), the 2013 Cube comes out 6.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.7% of all tests — 7.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp aim and service brake performance — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 20 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.0% in the 30-60k band and 28.3% in the 120-150k band, a 23.3-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 14.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.8% in 2021 to 9.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 36 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.5% | 14 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.2% | 13 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 10 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.3% | 7 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.9% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 20 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 9 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 8 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 7 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 7 |
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 | 14.9% | 46 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.6% | 45 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.9% | 40 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 32 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.1% | 22 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 19 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 101 | 5.0% |
| 60-90k | 63 | 15.9% |
| 90-120k | 60 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 28.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 41 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 38 | 21.1% |
| 2023 | 58 | 12.1% |
| 2024 | 87 | 11.5% |
| 2025 | 85 | 9.4% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Cube
On a 2013 Cube, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.5% 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.
- Suspension (4.2% 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 Cubes pass their MOT?
85.8% of the 309 2013 Nissan Cube MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Nissan Cube?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by brakes (4.5%).
Does the 2013 Cube get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 30-60k band to 28.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 309 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.