Honda Civic years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

256,855 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 1999–2022 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Honda Civic years with MOT pass rates below the average for vehicles first used in the same year: 2001–2003 and 2005–2011. Above it: 2012–2020 and 2022. The other 4 years can't be told apart from average.

Below the average for their first-use year2001–2003 and 2005–2011
Above the average for their first-use year2012–2020 and 2022
Can't be told apart from average1999–2000, 2004 and 2021

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

67.1%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 66.9% to 67.3%.

Honda Civic, all years67.1%
Same-age average, all vehicles66.3%

In 2025, 67.1% of the 256,855 initial MOT tests on Honda Civic cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 66.3%. That is 0.8 points above the same-age average.

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Its own MOT history, free.

Honda Civic MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2022age 3	1,41021,500	93.8%±1.4	+5.3 ptsall: 88.5%
2021age 4	4,89127,900	88.0%±1.0	+0.8 ptsall: 87.2%
2020age 5	5,55334,300	87.0%±1.0	+1.0 ptsall: 86.0%
2019age 6	12,61543,000	86.0%±0.7	+2.5 ptsall: 83.5%
2018age 7	13,50451,000	84.9%±0.7	+4.0 ptsall: 80.9%
2017age 8	14,50255,100	83.3%±0.7	+5.1 ptsall: 78.2%
2016age 9	16,09465,100	80.8%±0.7	+5.9 ptsall: 74.9%
2015age 10	14,92175,000	79.3%±0.7	+7.4 ptsall: 71.9%
2014age 11	14,31382,700	75.9%±0.8	+7.3 ptsall: 68.6%
2013age 12	15,09193,100	71.6%±0.8	+5.8 ptsall: 65.8%
2012age 13	12,84794,800	69.0%±0.9	+5.5 ptsall: 63.5%
2011age 14	10,80994,500	57.4%±1.0	−3.8 ptsall: 61.2%
2010age 15	15,854105,000	54.9%±0.8	−4.4 ptsall: 59.3%
2009age 16	17,443111,000	54.3%±0.8	−4.0 ptsall: 58.3%
2008age 17	18,228117,300	53.8%±0.8	−3.4 ptsall: 57.2%
2007age 18	18,941120,800	54.0%±0.8	−3.4 ptsall: 57.4%
2006age 19	11,546123,500	53.4%±1.0	−3.6 ptsall: 57.0%
2005age 20	10,977108,900	56.5%±1.0	−1.1 ptsall: 57.6%
2004age 21	9,012110,600	57.0%±1.1	−0.8 ptsall: 57.8%
2003age 22	6,353105,200	53.6%±1.3	−5.1 ptsall: 58.7%
2002age 23	5,546106,200	55.1%±1.4	−4.4 ptsall: 59.5%
2001age 24	3,75599,500	55.9%±1.6	−5.2 ptsall: 61.1%
2000age 25	1,45793,300	64.6%±2.5	+1.9 ptsall: 62.7%
1999age 26	1,19395,400	62.6%±2.8	−2.0 ptsall: 64.6%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common Civic problems at the MOT

Share of the 84,452 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Lights and electrics53.0%
Suspension32.5%
Brakes23.8%
Tyres19.4%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors16.3%
Body, chassis, structure9.4%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

What to check when viewing a Civic

Based on the areas where Honda Civic MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Lights and electrics
In 53.0% of failed Civic tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Suspension
In 32.5% of failed Civic tests
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Brakes
In 23.8% of failed Civic tests
- On a clear road, brake firmly. The car should stop in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.
Tyres
In 19.4% of failed Civic tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a Civic's MOT history

Honda Civic questions

Which Honda Civic years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, these model years have below-average MOT pass rates: 2001–2003 and 2005–2011. Above average: 2012–2020 and 2022. The rest can't be told apart from average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Honda Civic reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 67.1% of initial MOT tests on Honda Civic cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 66.3%. That is 0.8 points above average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Honda Civic problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are lights and electrics (in 53.0% of failed tests), suspension (in 32.5% of failed tests) and brakes (in 23.8% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 10-year-old Honda Civic?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Honda Civic cars first used in 2015, about 10 years old, had a median of 75,000 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific Civic's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Honda Civic

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Honda models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Honda Civic cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count