Which Honda models fail their MOT most
17.6% of Honda cars fail first time, against 24.5% across every make. That is 6.9 points better than average, measured over 524,112 DVSA tests on 8 models.
Every Honda in the data
Sorted by how many tests each one contributes, so the models most people actually buy come first. A linked row has a page of its own.
| Model | Years | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jazz | 2010–2013 | 84,535 | 22.5% |
| Jazz | 2014–2017 | 73,765 | 12.7% |
| Civic | 2014–2017 | 60,718 | 17% |
| Civic | 2010–2013 | 58,125 | 32.9% |
| CR-V | 2014–2017 | 55,842 | 13.8% |
| CR-V | 2010–2013 | 47,489 | 22.9% |
| Jazz | 2018–2021 | 42,099 | 7.9% |
| Civic | 2018–2021 | 30,002 | 11.9% |
| CR-V | 2018–2021 | 23,640 | 8.5% |
| HR-V | 2014–2017 | 15,622 | 12.6% |
| HR-V | 2018–2021 | 14,852 | 7.4% |
| Insight | 2010–2013 | 6,460 | 28.4% |
| Accord | 2010–2013 | 4,382 | 27.9% |
| CR-Z | 2010–2013 | 3,680 | 23.8% |
| Jazz Ex I-Mmd Cvt | 2018–2021 | 2,901 | 4.9% |
How a Honda ages
The same manufacturer at three ages. Every make gets worse with age; what differs is how steeply, and that is the part worth knowing before you choose between a cheaper older one and a dearer newer one.
2018–2021
8.9%
113,494 tests
2014–2017
14.3%
205,947 tests
2010–2013
25.9%
204,671 tests
Best and worst in the range
Least likely to fail
- 7.4% HR-V 2018–2021
- 7.9% Jazz 2018–2021
- 8.5% CR-V 2018–2021
Most likely to fail
- 32.9% Civic 2010–2013
- 28.4% Insight 2010–2013
- 22.9% CR-V 2010–2013
Cohorts with at least 5,000 tests only, so a rare model cannot top either list on thin evidence.
What actually fails on a Honda
Pooled across the whole range and weighted by test count. One model's worst fault is a fact about that model; the same fault across the range is a fact about the make.
- 2% Brake linings and pads less than 1.5 mm thick
- 1.4% Tyres tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
- 0.9% Visibility does not clear the windscreen effectively
- 0.9% Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
- 0.8% Position lamp not working
- 0.8% Tyres has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
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Check the actual Honda you're looking at
This page is the make. Type the registration and you get that car's own MOT history, its mileage record, its tax status and the questions to ask the seller before you travel.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023. Class 4 standard tests only. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Honda and its marks are the property of their owner and are used here to identify the manufacturer this page is about.