Used car guide

2013 Honda Civic: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2013 Honda Civics, from 15,114 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

15,114MOT tests in 2025
72%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)
7,700typical miles a year
1.6×the usual rate for brake pads

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2013 Honda Civics than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Brake pads1.6× usual
    Honda Civic
    15.5% All 2013 cars
    9.8%
    Rough price £80–£180

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.3× usual
    Honda Civic
    6% All 2013 cars
    2.6%
    Rough price £80–£200

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

  • Position lamp1.7× usual
    Honda Civic
    6.9% All 2013 cars
    4%
    Rough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Suspension arm1.6× usual
    Honda Civic
    3.1% All 2013 cars
    2%
    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.

  • Flexible brake hoses1.7× usual
    Honda Civic
    2% All 2013 cars
    1.2%
    Rough price £50–£200

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

Better than most

Coil springs: 3% here, against 8.7% of all 2013 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 0.2% here, against 4.7% of all 2013 cars.

By area

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

  • Tyres
    31% 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
    26% 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.

  • Suspension
    23% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    23% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    4% 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 Honda Civic?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
201912,546Tyres 27%
201813,500Tyres 26%
201714,518Tyres 28%
201616,113Tyres 29%
201514,922Tyres 30%
201414,323Tyres 31%
201212,860Tyres 31%
201110,849Suspension 42%
201015,913Suspension 49%
200917,536Suspension 52%
200818,388Suspension 53%

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