2013 Subaru Wrx Sti-Tp Uk Sym-Cal — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Subaru Wrx Sti-Tp Uk Sym-Cal passed 89.2% of its 333 recorded MOT tests. That is 9.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.2%) and emissions & environmental (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and wipers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 21 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 Wrx Sti-Tp Uk Sym-Cal fails 13.3% of the time in the 30-60k band and 12.8% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.5 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 24 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 16 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.7% | 9 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.4% | 8 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.5% | 5 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 5 |
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 | 21 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 3 | Wipers | 8 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 6 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 6 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 6 |
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 | 21.0% | 70 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 41 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.2% | 24 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.7% | 19 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 18 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 16 |
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 | 128 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 124 | 9.7% |
| 90-120k | 39 | 12.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 78 | 7.7% |
| 2022 | 73 | 13.7% |
| 2023 | 64 | 10.9% |
| 2024 | 64 | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 54 | 9.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Wrx Sti-Tp Uk Sym-Cal
On a 2013 Wrx Sti-Tp Uk Sym-Cal, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (4.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (2.7% 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.
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 Wrx Sti-Tp Uk Sym-Cals pass their MOT?
89.2% of the 333 2013 Subaru Wrx Sti-Tp Uk Sym-Cal MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Subaru Wrx Sti-Tp Uk Sym-Cal?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (4.8%).
Does the 2013 Wrx Sti-Tp Uk Sym-Cal get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 30-60k band to 12.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 333 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.