Honda Civic MOT pass rate and common problems
Honda Civics fail their MOT less often than other cars of the same age.
- Failed at the first attempt
- 33.7%failed at the first attempt in 2024
Average for cars of the same age: 34.4%
Data: DVSA MOT results · 2024 · 272,456 tests
Check a Honda Civic by registration
Honda Civic common problems: what should I check before buying?
The faults recorded most often at Honda Civic MOTs in 2019–2024, per 100 tests.
- Worn suspension bush or joint5.63Major
What to check: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, feel for the car wandering under braking, and ask which part was replaced.
- Headlight aimed wrongly5.27Major
What to check: Shine the dipped beams at a wall after dark: both should sit at the same height.
- Suspension joint cover perished5.26Minor
What to check: Look at the ball joint covers behind the front wheels: once a cover splits, the joint wears out.
- One number plate light out4.83Minor
What to check: Check every number plate light works with the sidelights on; a single dead bulb or LED is a cheap fix.
- Tyre tread below the legal limit4.12Dangerous
What to check: Check the tread across every tyre with a gauge; wear on one edge points to a tracking fault.
One test can record several defects, so this is not the share of Honda Civics.
Each tip applies only if the car you are looking at has that fault in its own MOT history.
Check a Honda Civic by registration
Which Honda Civic years should I avoid?
2011 is the Honda Civic year that fails its MOT most for its age; 2012 fails least.
Fails more for its age: 2010, 2011.
Fails less for its age: 1999, 2000, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019.
Years without published figures
- 2024, 2025, 2026
These registration years do not need an MOT yet. Ask the seller for the service history.
- 2021, 2022, 2023
Our figures end in 2024, before these cars had enough MOTs to compare.
Year means the year the car was first registered, as DVSA records it. It may differ from the year it was built.
How does the Honda Civic compare with similar cars?
4 of 8 similar models fail less often for their age than the Honda Civic.
This is a different comparison from the one at the top. There, the Honda Civic is measured against all cars of the same age. Here, it sits among similar models. Both can be true.
| Model | MOT Risk Index |
|---|---|
| Honda Civic | 98.1 |
| Ford Focus | 102.7 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 85.8 |
| Vauxhall Astra | 104.5 |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 94.2 |
| Ford Mondeo | 98.8 |
| Kia Sportage | 104.9 |
| Ford Kuga | 90.2 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 92.4 |
How do Honda Civics hold up as they get older?
First-time MOT failures on Honda Civics go from 11.1% at age 3 to 44.1% at age 19.
| Age at MOT (years) | Honda Civic failed (%) | All cars failed (%) | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 11.1 (rough estimate) | 12.4 | 153 |
| 16 | 45.2 | 43.1 | 20,944 |
| 17 | 45.5 | 43.1 | 22,724 |
| 18 | 46.1 | 43.9 | 14,509 |
| 19 | 44.1 | 43.5 | 12,710 |
Do advisories on Honda Civics turn into fails at the next MOT?
35.2% of lights and electrical advisories on Honda Civics turned into lights and electrical fails at the next MOT.
The next MOT came about 12 months later.
Based on 42,510 advisories, each followed to the car's next MOT, 2019–2024. This counts advisories, not cars.
The most common advisories on Honda Civics are for tyres: 41.40 per 100 tests.
| Advisory | Failed next time (%) | Advisories followed |
|---|---|---|
| lamps, reflectors and electrics | 35.2 | 42,510 |
| suspension | 27.6 | 258,181 |
| brakes | 14 | 303,457 |
| visibility | 13.2 | 1,475 |
| body, chassis and structure | 13 | 59,063 |
What else should I know about a used Honda Civic?
- MOT pass rate, 2024
- 33.7% failed at the first attempt; after repairs at the test centre, 73.9% passed in the end.
- MOT tests counted
- 272,456 first tests in 2024; retests are left out
- Years first registered
- 1998 to 2020
- Fuel
- Petrol 75.8%, diesel 23.1%
- ULEZ
- 66.9% likely to meet it, judged from fuel and registration date
- Typical mileage at 8 years old
- 58,057 miles
- Recalls
- 76 campaigns listed by DVSA
Honda Civic common problems: what actually fails the MOT?
Honda Civic MOTs fail most often on ‘lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment’: 33.2 per 100 tests, against 24.4 for UK cars of the same age (2019–2024, n = 1,848,283).
| Measure | Value (per 100) | Comparison (per 100) | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 33.2 | 24.4 | 612,801 |
| Suspension | 22.5 | 21.0 | 415,816 |
| Brakes | 14.2 | 15.6 | 261,748 |
| Visibility | 9 | 9.4 | 166,900 |
| Tyres | 9 | 9.5 | 166,470 |
What is likely to fail next on a used Honda Civic?
For Honda Civics aged 12 to 14 whose last MOT was a fail, the item most likely to fail at the next MOT is ‘lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment’: 33.5% failed on it (2019–2024, n = 144,170).
| Measure | Value (% next fail) |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, 12 to 14 years old, after a fail | 33.5 |
| Suspension, 12 to 14 years old, after a fail | 25.2 |
| Brakes, 12 to 14 years old, after a fail | 13.4 |
| Visibility, 12 to 14 years old, after a fail | 9.7 |
| Tyres, 12 to 14 years old, after a fail | 9.3 |
How often do Honda Civics get a dangerous MOT defect?
The Honda Civic gets a dangerous defect more often than the UK average: 12.7 per 100 first tests against 11.2 across the UK. A dangerous defect means the vehicle should not be driven away until it is fixed. In the same tests, 65.7 major and 26.0 minor defects were recorded per 100 tests (one test can record several).
Severity was not recorded for some 2018–2021 tests.
| Measure | Value (per 100) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous defects | 12.7 | 1,848,283 |
Comparison: 11.2 per 100.
How much do Honda Civic MOT repairs cost?
Expected repair cost per Honda Civic MOT: about £116 (up to about £221 if more expensive parts are needed), from the chance of failing each item and its most common UK repair price (catalogue estimate, n = 272,456).
Computed, not measured.
| Measure | Value | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Expected repair bill | 116.4 GBP estimate | modal price catalogue |
| Estimated range lower | 116.4 GBP estimate | modal price catalogue |
| Estimated range upper | 221.1 GBP estimate | modal price catalogue |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: Battery replacement (standard 12V lead-acid) | 46.5 GBP expected contribution | 140 |
| Suspension: Suspension coil spring (single corner) | 40.5 GBP expected contribution | 180 |
What mileage is normal for a used Honda Civic?
At age 8, the median Honda Civic had covered 58,057 miles by its MOT; the middle half ranged from 41,821 to 77,800 miles (2024, n = 16,223).
| Measure | Value (miles) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 3 median (rough estimate) | 21856 | 153 |
| Age 3 P25 (rough estimate) | 15058 | 153 |
| Age 3 P75 (rough estimate) | 31959 | 153 |
| Age 4 median | 28015 | 3,320 |
| Age 4 P25 | 19474 | 3,320 |
Do high-mileage Honda Civics fail their MOT more often?
At ages 15+, 22.3% of Honda Civics with under 40,000 miles failed first time, against 50.2% of those with over 140,000 miles (2024, n = 30,577). Inside this age group, higher mileage goes with more failures.
| Measure | Value (% failed first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 3–5, <40k miles | 11.1 | 10,333 |
| Age 3–5, 40-70k miles | 15.6 | 4,886 |
| Age 3–5, 70-100k miles | 16.8 | 733 |
| Age 3–5, 100-140k miles (rough estimate: 144 tests, 95% interval 10.3–22%) | 15.3 | 144 |
| Age 6–9, <40k miles | 11.4 | 16,527 |
How many miles do Honda Civics last?
36.4% of Honda Civics tested had reached 100,000 miles, and 7.6% had reached 150,000 (2024, n = 669,768).
| Measure | Value (% of tested cars) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| 100,000 miles | 36.4 | 669,768 |
| 150,000 miles | 7.6 | 139,691 |
| 200,000 miles | 0.8 | 15,508 |
Does mileage, as well as age, change the Honda Civic failure index?
Matched on annual mileage as well as age, the Honda Civic index is 95.9, against 97.2 on age alone (2019–2024, n = 272,456).
| Measure | Value (index) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age and mileage adjusted index | 95.9 | 272,456 |
Comparison: 97.2 index.
Which Honda Civic fuel type fails its MOT less?
There is no real difference between petrol and diesel Honda Civics before allowing for age: 34.0% against 32.7% fail first time.
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 35.5 | 1,520 |
| Petrol | 34.0 | 206,586 |
| Diesel | 32.7 | 62,986 |
Comparison: other fuels.
Which Honda Civic engine fails its MOT least?
Among engines with enough tests, the best Honda Civic engine is the petrol 1.8–2.0 litre at index 85.8, and the worst the diesel over 2.0 litre at 109.2, where 100 = the model's own average (2024, n = 272,456).
| Measure | Value (index vs model norm) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol 1.0–1.2 litre (rough estimate: 123 tests, 95% interval 42.1–103.5) | 67 | 123 |
| Petrol 1.8–2.0 litre | 85.8 | 141,681 |
| Diesel 1.2–1.5 litre (rough estimate: 315 tests, 95% interval 81.5–107.9) | 94.4 | 315 |
| Petrol under 1.0 litre | 96.1 | 78,098 |
| Petrol 1.5–1.8 litre | 98.3 | 802,538 |
Comparison: 100 = model average.
Where in Britain does the Honda Civic fail its MOT most?
Honda Civic fails first-time MOTs most in Exeter (EX): 42.4% against 34.1% across Britain for this model, both 2019–2024 (2019–2024, n = 17,717).
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Exeter (EX) | 42.4 | 17,717 |
| Bristol (BS) | 42.0 | 37,891 |
| Kirkcaldy (KY) | 41.4 | 13,847 |
| Bromley (BR) | 23.5 | 6,643 |
| Enfield (EN) | 25.5 | 11,681 |
Across Britain for this model: 34.1% failed first time, also in 2019–2024.
Does the Honda Civic have rust problems?
Allowing for age, Honda Civic MOTs record corrosion failures at 1.1 times the national rate: 0.81% of tests against 0.77% (2024 + geographic layers, n = 267,425).
Computed, not measured.
| Measure | Value (ratio estimate) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Salt belt susceptibility | 1.1 | 267,425 |
Comparison: 1 ratio estimate.
What do six years of MOTs show about owning a used Honda Civic?
Of failed Honda Civic MOTs, 43.6% were retested the same day and a further 53.2% within 10 days; the median failed car passed its retest after 1 day (2019–2024, n = 427,319).
| Measure | Value | Comparison | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same-day retest | 43.6 % | failed initial tests | 427,319 |
| Retest within 10 days | 53.2 % | failed initial tests | 427,319 |
| Clean MOT streak | 32.9 % | observed chains | 328,912 |
| Repeat advisory | 35.5 % | observed chains | 328,912 |
| Decreasing odometer | 1.0 % mileage anomaly | observed chains | 356,772 |
Is low mileage good for a used Honda Civic?
Honda Civics aged 5 to 14 doing under 5,000 miles a year failed first time in 18.6% of tests, against 32.7% for those doing 8,000 to 12,000 miles (2019–2024, n = 172,186).
| Measure | Value | Comparison | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-use first-time failure | 18.6 % | 32.7 | 172,186 |
| Low-use gap | -14.2 percentage points | 8–12k miles | 172,186 |
How many years do Honda Civics last?
Honda Civics tend to last: at ten years old the typical one has about 9.2 more years of MOTs ahead, more than the median model. This is a forecast from the survival curve and may not come true.
Computed, not measured.
Forecast, not a prediction for a particular car.
| Measure | Value (years forecast) |
|---|---|
| Age 5 (at least; observed only until age 19) | 14.2 |
| Age 8 (at least; observed only until age 19) | 11.2 |
| Age 10 (at least; observed only until age 19) | 9.2 |
| Age 12 (at least; observed only until age 19) | 7.2 |
| Age 15 (at least; observed only until age 19) | 4.2 |
How many Honda Civics are still on the road as they age?
In 2024, for every 100 Honda Civics tested at ages 4 to 6, about 72 were tested at age 19 (2024, n = 61,078).
| Measure | Value (% of age 4–6 baseline) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 3 | 77.8 | 65,815 |
| Age 4 | 90.3 | 76,422 |
| Age 5 (at least as many as at ages 4–6) | 100 | 87,307 |
| Age 6 (at least as many as at ages 4–6) | 100 | 90,075 |
| Age 7 (at least as many as at ages 4–6) | 100 | 89,464 |
If a used Honda Civic fails its MOT, will it fail the next one?
Honda Civics that fail once are much more likely to fail again: 40.1% failed the next MOT after a fail, against 27.4% after a pass (test chains 2019–2024). The failure most likely to come back is ‘lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment’: 41.5% of those fails recurred at the next MOT.
| Measure | Value (%) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat after fail | 40.1 | 143,160 |
Comparison: 27.4 %.
Which Honda Civic faults tend to come together?
On Honda Civics, ‘body, chassis, structure’ and ‘noise, emissions and leaks’ failures turn up together 9.4 times as often as chance would predict (2024, n = 18,335).
| Measure | Value (lift) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Body, chassis, structure + Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.4 | 18,335 |
| Body, chassis, structure + Seat belt installation check (rough estimate: 24 tests, 95% interval 4.7–11.0) | 7.4 | 24 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks + Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 6.8 | 3,176 |
| Road Wheels + Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems (rough estimate: 339 tests, 95% interval 5.3–6.5) | 5.9 | 339 |
| Body, chassis, structure + Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 5.2 | 3,371 |
Comparison: expected joint rate.
Honda Civic safety recalls: how do I check this car?
DVSA lists 76 safety recall campaigns matched to the Honda Civic; check whether yours has been fixed, using its registration number.
| Measure | Value (campaigns) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| DVSA recall campaigns matched | 76 | 272,456 |
Comparison: DVSA register.
How many Honda Civics fail the MOT at each age?
Of every 100 Honda Civics tested at age 5, about 13 failed the MOT first time; at age 10, about 23. These are one-year rates for different cars tested in the same year, not a fleet followed over time; the steepest one-year step in this cross-section is between cars aged 12 and 13, 12.1 percentage points (2024).
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 3 (rough estimate: 153 tests, 95% interval 7.0–17.1%) | 11.1 | 153 |
| Age 4 | 11.0 | 3,320 |
| Age 5 | 13.2 | 12,645 |
| Age 6 | 15.7 | 13,587 |
| Age 7 | 15.5 | 14,634 |
What have US dealers been told about the Honda Civic?
NHTSA lists 672 US technical service bulletins for the Honda Civic (US market, Honda CIVIC, model years 2015–2022 only); a count, not a UK failure rate.
| Measure | Value (bulletins) |
|---|---|
| US service bulletins | 672 |
| Year 2014 | 2 |
| Year 2015 | 24 |
| Year 2016 | 109 |
| Year 2017 | 83 |
Comparison: NHTSA.
NHTSA, US market, Honda CIVIC, model years 2015–2022 only; covers 211 of 761 models. These two sections use US records from NHTSA. US cars sold under the same name can differ from UK ones.
What do US owners complain about on the Honda Civic?
The most common US owner complaint about the Honda Civic to NHTSA concerns steering: 1,735 complaints (US market, Honda CIVIC, model years 2015–2022 only).
| Measure | Value (complaints) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 1735 | 1,735 |
| Lamps & electrical | 459 | 459 |
| Transmission (not MOT-tested) | 309 | 309 |
| Engine (not MOT-tested) | 303 | 303 |
| Brakes | 245 | 245 |
NHTSA, US market, Honda CIVIC, model years 2015–2022 only; covers 211 of 761 models. These two sections use US records from NHTSA. US cars sold under the same name can differ from UK ones.
Do Honda Civics fail their MOT more in some months?
Honda Civics fail first time most in November (36.0%, against 30.6% for all cars that month) and least in March (32.0%) (2024, n = 272,456).
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Comparison (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35.3 | 31.1 | 170,952 |
| February | 34.3 | 30.0 | 158,112 |
| March | 32.0 | 28.3 | 194,797 |
| April | 35.4 | 29.8 | 96,457 |
| May | 33.7 | 28.8 | 107,966 |
How far is real-world MPG from the lab figure for Honda cars?
Real-world fuel use of 2022 petrol cars from Honda Motor Co is 2.5% above the official WLTP figure: 5.69 against 5.55 litres per 100 km (2021+ cohorts, n = 18,288 vehicles).
Computed, not measured.
| Measure | Value (% real-world vs official) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Honda Motor Co 2021 petrol | 2.8 | 8,546 |
| Honda Motor Co 2022 petrol | 2.5 | 18,288 |
Comparison: 0% gap.
European Commission OBFCM; covers 19 of 761 models.
What DVSA defect categories mean
- Dangerous: the car should not be driven until it is repaired.
- Major: the car fails the MOT.
- Minor: recorded, but the car still passes.
- Advisory: noted by the tester to keep an eye on; the car still passes.
How are these figures calculated?
We count first MOT tests only; retests after repairs are left out. Each model is compared with cars of the same age.
Cite this page or report an error
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Honda Civic MOT statistics 2024 (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 24 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/honda-civic/
How the MOT Risk Index and every figure on this page are calculated: methodology.
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More on the Honda Civic
- Overview:
- Model overview · All Honda models
- Build years:
- 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020
- What fails:
- body · brakes · plates · lights · emissions · wheels · seat belts · steering · suspension · tyres · visibility
- Abroad:
- Finland · the Netherlands · Norway
- By area:
- Postcode areas
- Compare:
- Ford Focus · Volkswagen Golf · Vauxhall Astra · Mercedes-Benz A-Class