Used car guide

2013 Honda Accord diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Honda Accord first registered in 2013 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 1,078 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,078MOTs of 2013 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
73%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 67%)
8,800typical miles a year
11×the usual rate for anti-roll bar bushes and joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2013 Honda Accord diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2013 Honda Accord diesel than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints11× usual
    Honda Accord
    4.4% All 2013 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.1% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Headlights2.1× usual
    Honda Accord
    7% All 2013 cars
    3.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 2.5% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Braking performance1.9× usual
    Honda Accord
    8% All 2013 cars
    4.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 1.6% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Better than most

Track rod ends: 1.9% here, against 4.3% of all 2013 cars.

Common 2013 Honda Accord diesel MOT failures and advisories

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

  • Tyres
    32% 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
    28% 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
    24% 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
    19% 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.

  • Steering
    2% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2013 Honda Accord diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 11× as often on the 2013 Honda Accord diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2013 Honda Accord diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the 2013 Honda Accord diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Honda Accord?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Honda Accord compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2015488Tyres 27%
20141,263Tyres 28%
20123,468Tyres 29%
20113,757Tyres 31%
20103,745Suspension 33%
20099,051Suspension 36%
20088,565Suspension 41%
20079,350Suspension 48%
20068,451Suspension 48%
20058,708Suspension 52%
20047,445Suspension 53%
20034,742Suspension 50%
20021,738Suspension 45%
20011,688Suspension 47%
20002,233Suspension 45%
19991,404Suspension 42%
1998521Suspension 42%
1997228Suspension 39%
1996170Suspension 46%
1995134Suspension 40%
1994–Too few tests
1993–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests
1991–Too few tests
1990–Too few tests
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1980–Too few tests
1979–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Honda Accord cars first registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score