Used car guide

2013 Ford Ka: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2013 Ford Kas, from 18,136 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

18,136MOT tests in 2025
66%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)
5,000typical miles a year
3.5×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2013 Ford Kas than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Shock absorbers3.5× usual
    Ford Ka
    20.9% All 2013 cars
    6%
    Rough price £150–£400

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Exhaust system3.8× usual
    Ford Ka
    17.7% All 2013 cars
    4.6%
    Rough price £100–£500

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.2× usual
    Ford Ka
    19.1% All 2013 cars
    8.7%
    Rough price £100–£300

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Sub-frame2× usual
    Ford Ka
    7.4% All 2013 cars
    3.7%
    Rough price £300–£1,000

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Ball joint1.7× usual
    Ford Ka
    8.3% All 2013 cars
    5%
    Rough price £80–£200

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

By area

The share of 2013 Ford Ka MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    52% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    33% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    21% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    20% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    18% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    7% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Ford Ka?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20199,987Tyres 25%
201810,916Tyres 28%
201713,238Tyres 29%
20168,248Suspension 36%
201513,086Suspension 48%
201418,220Suspension 48%
201216,208Suspension 55%
201115,011Suspension 56%
201016,870Suspension 57%
200915,648Suspension 59%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2013 Ford Kas registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score