Used car guide

2013 Nissan Navara: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Nissan Navara first registered in 2013: we looked at the 10,284 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

10,284MOTs of 2013 cars, done in 2023–2025
59%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 67%)
10,000typical miles a year
3.7×the usual rate for ball joint

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2013 Nissan Navara?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2013 Nissan Navara than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Ball joint3.7× usual
    Nissan Navara
    16.9% All 2013 cars
    4.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 2.6% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

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

  • Track rod ends3.3× usual
    Nissan Navara
    14.2% All 2013 cars
    4.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8%, against 2.2% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Exhaust system2.9× usual
    Nissan Navara
    12% All 2013 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 1.2% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

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

  • Chassis rust or damage21.3× usual
    Nissan Navara
    6.4% All 2013 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 0% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.4× usual
    Nissan Navara
    9.9% All 2013 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.6% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 5% here, against 13.8% of all 2013 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 0.5% here, against 7.7% of all 2013 cars.

Common 2013 Nissan Navara MOT failures and advisories

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

  • Suspension
    38% 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
    35% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    29% 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.

  • Tyres
    21% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    13% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    12% 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.

Known faults on the 2013 Nissan Navara

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2013 Nissan Navara

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

  1. Has the chassis been repaired or replaced?
  2. Has the timing chain been replaced or upgraded?
  3. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 3.7× as often on the 2013 Nissan Navara as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the 2013 Nissan Navara as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the 2013 Nissan Navara as on other cars the same age.)
  6. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Nissan Navara?

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 Nissan Navara compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022127Brakes 17%
202113,787Tyres 18%
202012,967Brakes 18%
201922,225Brakes 20%
201823,709Tyres 21%
201726,575Suspension 28%
201623,155Suspension 27%
201511,700Suspension 31%
201410,548Suspension 35%
20129,937Suspension 40%
201111,814Suspension 42%
20105,705Lights and electrics 42%
20095,369Lights and electrics 45%
20085,296Lights and electrics 44%
20076,693Suspension 43%
20065,824Suspension 43%
20053,895Lights and electrics 47%
20042,330Lights and electrics 49%
2003966Brakes 49%
2002311Brakes 50%
2001169Suspension 49%

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