2013 Nissan Leaf — MOT failures & pass rate
8,274 MOT tests on the 2013 Nissan Leaf are in this dataset, and 74.0% of them passed. That is 6.5 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, steering and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 15.6% of tests against 7.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, track rod end and tread depth — ball joint alone was recorded 1,006 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.1% versus 13.2%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.6% | 1,290 |
| 2 | Steering | 7.3% | 602 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.4% | 528 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.3% | 521 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 488 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 371 |
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 | 1,006 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 706 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 341 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 311 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 307 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 267 |
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% | 2,346 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.9% | 2,146 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.7% | 2,129 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.7% | 801 |
| 5 | Steering | 8.6% | 711 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 273 |
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 | 546 | 13.2% |
| 30-60k | 3,140 | 22.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,268 | 29.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,037 | 33.3% |
| 120-150k | 229 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 54 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,623 | 22.2% |
| 2022 | 1,673 | 25.2% |
| 2023 | 1,695 | 26.1% |
| 2024 | 1,663 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 1,620 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Leaf
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.6% 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.
- Steering (7.3% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Brakes (6.4% 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.
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 Leafs pass their MOT?
74.0% of the 8,274 2013 Nissan Leaf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Nissan Leaf?
Suspension, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by steering (7.3%).
Does the 2013 Leaf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.2% in the 0-30k band to 24.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,274 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.