Honda Civic MOT pass rate
In 2023, the Honda Civic passed 67.0% of its first MOT tests, from 293,959 tests in Great Britain. That is 4.4 points below the 71.4% average for all cars, taxis and light vans.
Most common Honda Civic MOT failures
The area that failed most often was lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, affecting 17.8% of tests. The red line shows the average for all cars.
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 17.8% vs 11.3%
- Suspension 10.8% vs 8.9%
- Brakes 8.2% vs 6.8%
- Tyres 6.5% vs 6.3%
- Visibility 5.4% vs 4.8%
- Body, chassis, structure 3.2% vs 3.4%
- Noise, emissions and leaks 3.1% vs 3.1%
- Steering 1.8% vs 1.8%
- Headlamp aim 5.7% vs 3.3%
- Position lamp 5.6% vs 2.8%
- Headlamp 4.5% vs 2.2%
- Stop lamp 3.7% vs 2.2%
- Tyres: condition 3.5% vs 3.7%
- Tread depth 2.9% vs 2.6%
- Washers 2.9% vs 2.5%
- Brake pads 2.9% vs 2.1%
Top reasons for failure
| Reason for failure | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Position lamp: Not working | 5.4% |
| Headlamp aim: Projected beam image is obviously incorrect | 3.7% |
| Stop lamp: Not working | 3.5% |
| Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | 2.8% |
| Brake pads: Less than 1.5 mm thick | 2.7% |
| Wipers: Does not clear the windscreen effectively | 2.3% |
| Shock absorbers: Has a serious fluid leak | 2.1% |
| Headlamp: Not working on dipped beam | 2.1% |
| Washers: Provides insufficient washer liquid | 2.0% |
| Coil spring: Fractured or broken | 1.7% |
Honda Civic pass rate by age
The pass rate changes with age: 88.0% for cars aged 3 to 5 years and 55.9% for those aged 15 years or more. Older cars usually fail more often because parts like suspension, brakes and exhausts wear with time and mileage.
- 3 to 5 years 88.0% vs 71.4%
- 6 to 9 years 83.0% vs 71.4%
- 10 to 14 years 64.2% vs 71.4%
- 15 years or more 55.9% vs 71.4%
Pass rate by fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 222,503 | 66.6% |
| Diesel | 68,385 | 68.2% |
| Hybrid | 1,528 | 66.7% |
Most common Honda Civic advisories
Advisories do not fail the test, but they often become failures by the next MOT. These were noted most often:
- Tread depth 18.1%
- Tyres: condition 11.0%
- Brake discs 10.5%
- Brake pads 10.0%
- Vehicle 7.0%
- Pins and bushes 6.4%
- Shock absorbers 5.7%
- Coil spring 5.0%
See MOT advisories explained for what to do about them.
How we worked this out
These figures come from DVSA's anonymised MOT testing data for 2023, covering every class 4 MOT test in Great Britain (cars, taxis and light vans). We count normal tests only, not retests. A test counts as a first-time pass if the vehicle passed without any repairs. Tests where defects were fixed at the test centre within an hour (PRS) count as fails, in line with DVSA's own statistics. Failure areas show the share of tests with at least one failure in that area, so the figures add up to more than the fail rate.
Other Honda models
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Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Civic?
In 2023, 67.0% of Honda Civic MOT tests were passed first time, from 293,959 tests in Great Britain. The average for all cars, taxis and light vans was 71.4%.
What is the most common MOT failure on the Honda Civic?
The most common failure area was lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, which caused 17.8% of tests to fail. Next came suspension (10.8%) and brakes (8.2%).
Is the Honda Civic reliable at its MOT?
Its first-time pass rate of 67.0% is 4.4 points below the average and ranks 70 of the 100 most-tested models. Age and mileage matter more than the model, so always check the history of the car you are buying.
How do I check a Honda Civic's MOT history?
Enter its registration in our free MOT history check. You will see every test, the mileage at each test and all failures and advisories.