Honda FR-V years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

5,017 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2006–2009 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Honda FR-V years with MOT pass rates below the average for vehicles first used in the same year: 2006 and 2008. None is clearly above it. The other 2 years can't be told apart from average.

Below the average for their first-use year2006 and 2008
Above the average for their first-use yearNone
Can't be told apart from average2007 and 2009

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.

54.8%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 53.4% to 56.1%.

Honda FR-V, all years54.8%
Same-age average, all vehicles57.5%

In 2025, 54.8% of the 5,017 initial MOT tests on Honda FR-V cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 57.5%. That is 2.7 points below the same-age average.

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Its own MOT history, free.

Honda FR-V 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
2009age 16	1,104118,200	59.7%±3.0	+1.4 ptsall: 58.3%
2008age 17	1,472126,100	52.9%±2.6	−4.3 ptsall: 57.2%
2007age 18	1,407126,100	54.9%±2.7	−2.5 ptsall: 57.4%
2006age 19	1,034135,300	52.0%±3.1	−5.0 ptsall: 57.0%

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

Does mileage matter?

Honda FR-V first-time pass rates by the mileage at the initial test, all years together, against all vehicles of the same age and mileage.

56.3% of Honda FR-V tests at 90,000 to 119,999 miles passed first time, against 51.2% at 120,000 miles or more. For all vehicles of the same age and mileage, the figures are 54.5% and 54.1%.

Miles at the test	Tests	Passed first time	Against all vehicles, same age and mileage
90,000–119,999	1,369	56.3%±2.7	+1.8 ptsall: 54.5%
120,000 or more	2,888	51.2%±1.9	−2.9 ptsall: 54.1%

Against all vehicles of the same age and mileage, FR-V tests were about average at 90,000 to 119,999 miles and below average at 120,000 miles or more.

Mileage is only one factor. How a car has been driven and looked after matters too. These figures show an association across all Honda FR-V tests in 2025, not what mileage does to a particular car.

Mileage is the odometer reading at the initial test. Each band is compared with all vehicles first used in the same year with a reading in the same band, weighted by this model's own tests in each year. Bands need at least 1,000 tests. Not shown, with fewer than 1,000 tests: under 30,000, 30,000–59,999 and 60,000–89,999. 5 tests (0.1%) had no usable odometer reading and are left out. How we count

Common FR-V problems at the MOT

Share of the 2,269 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 electrics50.3%
Suspension40.9%
Brakes23.5%
Tyres20.5%
Body, chassis, structure18.4%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors14.1%

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 FR-V

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

Lights and electrics
In 50.3% of failed FR-V 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 40.9% of failed FR-V 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 23.5% of failed FR-V 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 20.5% of failed FR-V 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 FR-V's MOT history

Honda FR-V questions

Which Honda FR-V 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: 2006 and 2008. None is clearly above average. 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 FR-V reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 54.8% of initial MOT tests on Honda FR-V cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 57.5%. That is 2.7 points below 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 FR-V problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are lights and electrics (in 50.3% of failed tests), suspension (in 40.9% of failed tests) and brakes (in 23.5% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 16-year-old Honda FR-V?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Honda FR-V cars first used in 2009, about 16 years old, had a median of 118,200 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific FR-V'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 FR-V

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 FR-V cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count