2013 Subaru Brz — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Subaru Brz passed 88.9% of its 712 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (20.2% fail rate), the 2013 Brz comes out 9.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.8%) and tyres (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, tread depth and registration plate lamp(s) — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 18 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 10.1% versus 5.6%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 27 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.6% | 26 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 18 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 15 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 14 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.4% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 18 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 17 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 9 |
| 4 | Wipers | 8 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 7 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 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 | 21.3% | 152 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 104 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.0% | 57 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 39 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 24 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.2% | 23 |
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 | 71 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 273 | 9.9% |
| 60-90k | 271 | 14.8% |
| 90-120k | 69 | 10.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 136 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 138 | 8.7% |
| 2023 | 142 | 8.5% |
| 2024 | 140 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 156 | 17.9% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Brz
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 3.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (3.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.6% 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 (2.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Subaru Brzs pass their MOT?
88.9% of the 712 2013 Subaru Brz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Subaru Brz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by tyres (3.6%).
Does the 2013 Brz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.6% in the 0-30k band to 10.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 712 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.