MOT Risk Index.co.uk

Honda Civic — MOT statistics 2024

All Honda Civic variants tested in Great Britain in 2024 — 411,763 MOT tests, every generation and engine together.

MOT risk index 100.7, 95% CI 100.3–101.2 (100 = national average) 100 100.7 60 160
Index
100.7
100 = age-normal
Raw fail rate
32.3%
n = 411,763
Dangerous /100
15
national ≈13
Diesel − petrol
-0.4 pp
fail-rate gap
Rank
13 of 25
lower index = better

This car fails its MOT about 1% more often than expected for its age.

Age-adjusted peer: Mitsubishi Outlander (index 100.5)— the two published results are 0.2 index points apart.

What actually fails

Named defects ranked by how much more often they appear than the national average — not by raw rate.

Family vs national defect rates across 6 component groups This family National avg Lamps & electrical 46.9 Suspension 32.8 Brakes 18.6 Visibility 13.0 Steering 12.1 Tyres 10.6

family vs national — top component groups, per 100 tests

Component-group comparison table
GroupThis familyNational
Lamps & electrical46.923.5
Suspension32.819.9
Brakes18.614.3
Visibility13.012.0
Steering12.14.6
Tyres10.610.3
What failedper 100nationalratioCheck
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover…8.561.675.13×Ask the seller about: Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or det
Suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated9.433.452.73×Listen for knocks over bumps — worn suspension joints are common
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective6.581.713.85×Try every light and switch — lamps are a top failure
Aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down…7.702.992.57×Try every light and switch — lamps are a top failure
Strength or continuity of the load bearing…4.511.562.89×Listen for knocks over bumps — worn suspension joints are common
Lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a…5.332.562.08×Try every light and switch — lamps are a top failure
Rear registration plate lamp or light source…6.664.431.50×Try every light and switch — lamps are a top failure
Suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer…4.052.251.80×Listen for knocks over bumps — worn suspension joints are common
Suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn6.996.031.16×Listen for knocks over bumps — worn suspension joints are common
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the…4.533.821.18×Check tyre tread depth across the full width

Early warnings (advisories)

Advisories are wear the tester noted but didn't fail — what will need money soon.

Tyres 63.3 Suspension 62.4 Brakes 58.7 Body & structure 13.6 Non-component advisories 12.2 Lamps & electrical 7.7
Advisory rates table
Groupper 100
Tyres63.3
Suspension62.4
Brakes58.7
Body & structure13.6
Non-component advisories12.2
Lamps & electrical7.7

How it ages

3579111315171950%car age, years

Takeaway: a 10-year-old Civic has roughly a 23% chance of failing its MOT; from about age 13 it stays above the national age curve.

Data table
AgeHonda CivicAll cars
49.7%11.6%
511.7%13.5%
614.0%15.6%
714.3%18.2%
816.5%21.3%
918.4%24.4%
1022.6%27.7%
1125.6%30.6%
1228.5%33.4%
1340.4%36.0%
1443.0%38.6%
1543.0%39.9%
1644.2%41.5%
1744.8%41.5%
1845.9%42.4%
1942.4%42.2%
2042.3%37.5%

How severe are the defects?

Defect severity per 100 tests: Minor 45.3, Major 91.1, Dangerous 15.3 45.391.115.3 Minor 45.3 Major 91.1 Dangerous 15.3

Per 100 tests on this family. National average: Minor 24.4 · Major 63.3 · Dangerous 12.9 per 100.

Severity table
SeverityThis family /100National /100
Minor45.3424.38
Major91.0663.26
Dangerous15.2712.89

Does the test month matter?

Takeaway: the spread between best and worst month is 4.5 percentage points — noticeable seasonality. Seasonality partly reflects registration-date clustering, not weather.

33.67% in month 1 J32.53% in month 2 F29.99% in month 3 M32.65% in month 4 A30.32% in month 5 M31.11% in month 6 J31.99% in month 7 J31.9% in month 8 A30.92% in month 9 S34.49% in month 10 O34.24% in month 11 N33.38% in month 12 D 36% 23%

bars: Honda Civic · dashed: all class-4 cars

Month-by-month table
MonthHonda CivicAll cars
Jan33.67%27.37%
Feb32.53%26.14%
Mar29.99%24.75%
Apr32.65%26.01%
May30.32%25.01%
Jun31.11%25.01%
Jul31.99%26.04%
Aug31.9%25.79%
Sep30.92%25.19%
Oct34.49%27.13%
Nov34.24%27.2%
Dec33.38%26.29%

Is the mileage normal?

A typical 8-year-old Civic has ~58,120 miles on the clock. Much more — ask why; much less — check for gaps in the MOT history.

69121518car age, years 157k mi 0

Does high mileage actually mean more failures?

Same age band (6–14 years), split by odometer — this separates wear from age: 11.1% of the lowest-mileage cars failed versus 41.2% of the highest.

<40k mi 11.1% 40-70k mi 17.7% 70-100k mi 28.7% 100-140k mi 36.6% 140k+ mi 41.2%
Odometer% failingTests
<40k miles11.1%32,239
40-70k miles17.7%63,663
70-100k miles28.7%50,142
100-140k miles36.6%33,171
140k+ miles41.2%11,151

line: median · band: middle half of the fleet (p25–p75)

Mileage by age (p25 / median / p75)
Agep25Medianp75Tests
419,03826,58938,2066,516
525,49035,33047,24422,171
632,02143,32056,07023,281
735,12648,17062,51523,691
841,83358,12077,87023,570
948,97467,43589,46921,411
1055,39676,032100,72320,163
1163,93886,559111,10221,092
1267,64589,150114,01818,138
1368,86588,902111,41515,488
1478,344101,110126,62223,740
1584,712108,155133,71327,787
1691,799115,113140,64930,655
1796,195119,899144,89934,123
1899,057123,816149,70921,234
1984,480109,560135,04019,026
20+78,653104,713132,03059,334

Regional variation (raw rates)

Every dot is a postcode area — size = how many were tested there, colour = share failing. These figures are not age-adjusted: coastal and rural areas often run older fleets and salted roads, so higher raw fail rates do not automatically mean a worse local stock of this model.

Torquay (TQ): 43.1% failing, 2,718 testsExeter (EX): 42.2% failing, 4,039 testsTaunton (TA): 41.7% failing, 2,309 testsDorchester (DT): 41.3% failing, 2,119 testsBournemouth (BH): 41.3% failing, 5,854 testsBath (BA): 40.6% failing, 3,585 testsBristol (BS): 39.9% failing, 8,739 testsBrighton (BN): 39.5% failing, 5,640 testsSalisbury (SP): 39.2% failing, 2,254 testsPlymouth (PL): 38.1% failing, 4,140 testsLondon SE (SE): 37.2% failing, 3,371 testsCardiff (CF): 36.9% failing, 6,950 testsWatford (WD): 36.9% failing, 1,636 testsKirkcaldy (KY): 36.7% failing, 2,987 testsTonbridge (TN): 36.6% failing, 4,551 testsSouthampton (SO): 36.5% failing, 5,055 testsMilton Keynes (MK): 36.4% failing, 4,141 testsTruro (TR): 36.2% failing, 2,124 testsIpswich (IP): 35.9% failing, 5,320 testsIlford (IG): 35.9% failing, 1,677 testsDundee (DD): 35.7% failing, 2,097 testsNewport (NP): 35.4% failing, 2,910 testsOldham (OL): 35.3% failing, 2,692 testsGloucester (GL): 35.3% failing, 5,353 testsCanterbury (CT): 35.2% failing, 2,499 testsSwindon (SN): 35.2% failing, 3,883 testsManchester (M): 35.1% failing, 7,306 testsHull (HU): 35% failing, 2,592 testsSwansea (SA): 34.8% failing, 4,253 testsLondon E (E): 34.8% failing, 4,567 testsShrewsbury (SY): 34.3% failing, 2,425 testsNorthampton (NN): 34.2% failing, 4,982 testsLlandudno (LL): 34.1% failing, 3,486 testsLondon N (N): 33.9% failing, 2,827 testsGuildford (GU): 33.7% failing, 4,685 testsReading (RG): 33.7% failing, 6,327 testsLondon W (W): 33.5% failing, 1,371 testsMedway (ME): 33.5% failing, 3,826 testsCambridge (CB): 33.3% failing, 3,393 testsHarrow (HA): 33.3% failing, 3,406 testsNorwich (NR): 33.1% failing, 5,173 testsPeterborough (PE): 33% failing, 6,695 testsBlackpool (FY): 32.9% failing, 1,747 testsColchester (CO): 32.9% failing, 2,491 testsLuton (LU): 32.9% failing, 2,713 testsStoke-on-Trent (ST): 32.8% failing, 4,507 testsYork (YO): 32.8% failing, 3,039 testsPerth (PH): 32.7% failing, 938 testsTwickenham (TW): 32.6% failing, 3,558 testsRedhill (RH): 32.5% failing, 4,172 testsOxford (OX): 32.5% failing, 4,412 testsChester (CH): 32.5% failing, 4,339 testsDarlington (DL): 32.4% failing, 1,415 testsLondon SW (SW): 32.1% failing, 1,518 testsWorcester (WR): 32% failing, 2,149 testsRomford (RM): 31.9% failing, 2,664 testsSouthend-on-Sea (SS): 31.6% failing, 2,426 testsStockport (SK): 31.5% failing, 3,812 testsLondon NW (NW): 31.4% failing, 4,985 testsWalsall (WS): 31.3% failing, 3,104 testsSt Albans (AL): 31.3% failing, 1,911 testsLiverpool (L): 31.2% failing, 2,439 testsSlough (SL): 31.1% failing, 3,285 testsPaisley (PA): 31.1% failing, 1,705 testsLincoln (LN): 31% failing, 2,771 testsLeicester (LE): 30.9% failing, 6,603 testsHuddersfield (HD): 30.9% failing, 1,452 testsPortsmouth (PO): 30.7% failing, 8,851 testsHemel Hempstead (HP): 30.5% failing, 4,461 testsLeeds (LS): 30.4% failing, 3,357 testsUxbridge (UB): 30.4% failing, 3,869 testsBirmingham (B): 30.2% failing, 14,670 testsHereford (HR): 30.2% failing, 1,327 testsEdinburgh (EH): 30.1% failing, 5,801 testsWigan (WN): 30.1% failing, 1,797 testsBolton (BL): 30.1% failing, 3,121 testsStevenage (SG): 30.1% failing, 3,164 testsCleveland (TS): 30% failing, 3,364 testsLancaster (LA): 29.9% failing, 2,268 testsCrewe (CW): 29.9% failing, 2,000 testsWolverhampton (WV): 29.8% failing, 2,873 testsInverness (IV): 29.8% failing, 1,611 testsAberdeen (AB): 29.8% failing, 4,287 testsWakefield (WF): 29.8% failing, 3,037 testsWarrington (WA): 29.6% failing, 3,658 testsChelmsford (CM): 29.4% failing, 3,088 testsCarlisle (CA): 29.4% failing, 2,134 testsNottingham (NG): 29.3% failing, 8,907 testsPreston (PR): 29.2% failing, 3,622 testsFalkirk (FK): 29.1% failing, 2,007 testsTelford (TF): 28.8% failing, 1,871 testsGlasgow (G): 28.7% failing, 7,529 testsDartford (DA): 28.6% failing, 2,253 testsDudley (DY): 28.6% failing, 2,037 testsCoventry (CV): 28.3% failing, 5,464 testsCroydon (CR): 28.2% failing, 2,991 testsDerby (DE): 27.7% failing, 4,868 testsMotherwell (ML): 27.6% failing, 2,017 testsSutton (SM): 27.6% failing, 845 testsBlackburn (BB): 27.5% failing, 3,897 testsHalifax (HX): 27.2% failing, 826 testsKilmarnock (KA): 27% failing, 3,091 testsSheffield (S): 27% failing, 8,805 testsKingston upon Thames (KT): 26.9% failing, 3,627 testsNewcastle (NE): 26.7% failing, 6,055 testsDoncaster (DN): 25.4% failing, 7,478 testsDurham (DH): 25.1% failing, 2,276 testsBradford (BD): 24.6% failing, 4,042 testsEnfield (EN): 23.4% failing, 2,619 testsBromley (BR): 22% failing, 1,131 testsDumfries (DG): 21.8% failing, 1,106 testsSunderland (SR): 20.2% failing, 1,696 tests % failing 25% 41%
Toughest areas% failing
Torquay (TQ)43.12%
Exeter (EX)42.21%
Taunton (TA)41.66%
Dorchester (DT)41.34%
Bournemouth (BH)41.29%
Easiest areas% failing
Enfield (EN)23.44%
Bradford (BD)24.62%
Durham (DH)25.13%
Doncaster (DN)25.37%
Newcastle (NE)26.72%

Quick answers

Is a 10-year-old Civic a bad buy?
A 10-year-old Civic has roughly a 23% chance of failing its MOT. Across 411,763 initial tests in 2024 the family fails its MOT about 1% more often than expected for its age (MOT Risk Index 100.7, where 100 = normal for its age). For a similarly sized published sample, compare Audi A4 MOT stats: 406,182 tests and index 84.6.
What usually fails on a Civic MOT?
The most frequent specific failures in 2024 were: a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated; steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated; the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
What mileage is normal for a Civic?
For a typical 8-year-old Civic, the median is about 58,120 miles; the middle half of the fleet sits between 41,833 and 77,870.
How often are dangerous faults found?
About 15 dangerous defects were recorded per 100 initial Honda Civic tests in 2024 (national average ≈13) — with a dangerous defect the car legally cannot be driven away.

Compare with

Same brand

All Honda MOT statisticsHonda Jazz MOT statsHonda E MOT stats

Similar risk

Mitsubishi Outlander (index 100.5)Toyota Yaris (index 95.6)Ford Focus (index 106.9)

Same size class

how Audi A4 compareshow Kia Sportage compareshow Ford Kuga compares

Data details & how to cite

Scope: class-4 vehicles (cars), initial tests only, outcomes pass / fail / fixed-on-the-spot at the station (PRS counts towards the failure rate — the defect was present at arrival). Index = observed initial failures ÷ failures expected for this fleet's exact age profile, ×100; margin of error is a 95% confidence interval. Covers ALL generations together — a 3-year-old and a 15-year-old are very different cars; a generation split is on the roadmap. Dataset release dvsa-2024-v1, frozen baseline. Full method: methodology.

Cite: MOT Risk Index (2026). Honda Civic MOT statistics 2024 (dvsa-2024-v1). https://motriskindex.co.uk/cars/honda-civic/ · Published 2026-07-30.