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Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, 3 to 15 years old

Honda models ranked by MOT fails

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 2,533,495 MOT tests · Updated

Honda CR-Z ranks first among Honda models (95% rank range 1–3, statistically close to the next 2): 35% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (14,370 MOT tests) [1].

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  • 8 models ranked, 4 with at least 20% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (95% interval, at 3 or more ages), from 2,533,495 MOT tests [1]
  • Honda CR-V is next: 35% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (582,055 MOT tests)
  • Honda Civic is last of the 8: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.91) (742,109 MOT tests)

Which year and engine a car has, and how it was kept, decide where one car sits in these ranges. Check the reg first.

Fail rates are for the model across its MOT tests, never a forecast for one car.

  • Fewest MOT fails: Honda CR-Z, 35% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage (statistically close to #2)
  • #2 for fewest MOT fails: Honda CR-V, 35% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
  • #3 for fewest MOT fails: Honda HR-V, 34% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
  • #4 for fewest MOT fails: Honda Jazz, 24% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage

This is DVSA MOT data, not road tests, owner surveys or breakdown records, and nobody paid to be included. Each model is compared with all cars tested at the same age, in the same mileage band and in its own mix of test years, so a low-mileage model does not look better for its low mileage. "Most reliable" in our titles is measured as MOT failure rate at the same age and mileage, not breakdowns.

Honda models: the ranking

Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, from 8 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each of 3 or more ages between 3 to 15 years (pooled). The range under each rank is where the model could sit once sampling error is allowed for. Each adjusted rate reads against its own all-car rate, because models are tested at different ages.

Honda models: MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, top 8Dot plot of the 8 models in the table: each dot is the model's MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, the line its 95% confidence interval. Dashed line: the same rate as all cars. Blue: at least 20% fewer fails, red: at least 20% more (interval and 3 or more ages), grey: about average.Fewer fails ← → more fails, same age and mileage80% fewer60% fewer40% fewer20% fewersame20% moreHonda CR-Z: 35% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.65, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.67), 14,370 MOT tests1. Honda CR-ZHonda CR-V: 35% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.65, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.66), 582,055 MOT tests2. Honda CR-VHonda HR-V: 34% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.66, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.68), 124,020 MOT tests3. Honda HR-VHonda Jazz: 24% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.76, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.77), 991,779 MOT tests4. Honda JazzHonda Insight: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.78, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.79), 31,500 MOT tests5. Honda InsightHonda Accord: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.82), 37,758 MOT tests6. Honda AccordHonda FR-V: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.91, 95% CI 0.89 to 0.93), 9,904 MOT tests7. Honda FR-VHonda Civic: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.91, 95% CI 0.91 to 0.91), 742,109 MOT tests8. Honda Civic
Top 8 of 8. Adjusted rate = the model's rate at typical mileage for its own ages, against all cars at those ages; raw = its own ages and mileage.
#95% rangeModelAgainst cars the same age and mileageAdjusted rateits own ages, typical mileageRawits own ages and mileageMOT testsNext step
11–3Honda CR-Zsports car35% fewer fails (33–37% fewer)23.9%all cars: 36.8%24.1%14,370at 10 to 15 yearsHonda CR-Z common problems
21–3Honda CR-Vfamily SUV35% fewer fails (34–35% fewer)17.9%all cars: 27.4%18.6%582,055at 3 to 15 yearsHonda CR-V MOT fail rate · Honda CR-V common problems
31–3Honda HR-V (first used from 2015)small SUV34% fewer fails (32–35% fewer)11.4%all cars: 17.1%10.8%124,020at 3 to 10 yearsHonda HR-V MOT fail rate · Honda HR-V common problems
44–5Honda Jazzsupermini24% fewer fails (23–24% fewer)21.2%all cars: 27.8%18.8%991,779at 3 to 15 yearsHonda Jazz MOT fail rate · Honda Jazz common problems
54–6Honda Insight (first used from 2009)family hatchbackclose to averageratio 0.78 (0.77–0.79)29.3%all cars: 37.6%30.1%31,500at 10 to 15 yearsHonda Insight MOT fail rate · Honda Insight common problems
65–6Honda Accordexecutive carclose to averageratio 0.80 (0.79–0.82)31.3%all cars: 38.9%32.9%37,758at 10 to 15 yearsHonda Accord MOT fail rate · Honda Accord common problems
77–8Honda FR-VMPVclose to averageratio 0.91 (0.89–0.93)37.8%all cars: 41.5%39.7%9,904at 13 to 15 yearsHonda FR-V MOT fail rate · Honda FR-V common problems
87–8Honda Civicfamily hatchbackclose to averageratio 0.91 (0.91–0.91)26.1%all cars: 28.6%26.6%742,109at 3 to 15 yearsHonda Civic MOT fail rate · Honda Civic common problems

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The top 8 in this list, model by model

1 · 35% fewer MOT fails

Honda CR-Z

Why it ranks here: 35% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.65, 95% CI 0.63–0.67), from 14,370 MOT tests at 10 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 23.9% (23.3%–24.6%), against 36.8% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 24.1%. Rank range 1–3.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a sports car; the ones tested were 38% hybrid, 33% petrol.

2 · 35% fewer MOT fails

Honda CR-V

Why it ranks here: 35% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.65, 95% CI 0.65–0.66), from 582,055 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 17.9% (17.9%–18.1%), against 27.4% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 18.6%. Rank range 1–3.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were 48% diesel, 46% petrol.

3 · 34% fewer MOT fails

Honda HR-V (first used from 2015)

Why it ranks here: 34% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.66, 95% CI 0.65–0.68), from 124,020 MOT tests at 3 to 10 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 11.4% (11.2%–11.6%), against 17.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 10.8%. Rank range 1–3.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a small SUV; the ones tested were 67% petrol, 28% diesel; this row covers cars first used from 2015.

4 · 24% fewer MOT fails

Honda Jazz

Why it ranks here: 24% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.76, 95% CI 0.76–0.77), from 991,779 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 21.2% (21.1%–21.3%), against 27.8% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 18.8%. Rank range 4–5.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a supermini; the ones tested were mostly petrol.

5 · About average

Honda Insight (first used from 2009)

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.78, 95% CI 0.77–0.79), from 31,500 MOT tests at 10 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 29.3% (28.8%–29.8%), against 37.6% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 30.1%. Rank range 4–6.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were 45% hybrid, 29% unknown; this row covers cars first used from 2009.

6 · About average

Honda Accord

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.79–0.82), from 37,758 MOT tests at 10 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 31.3% (30.8%–31.7%), against 38.9% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 32.9%. Rank range 5–6.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were 59% petrol, 41% diesel.

7 · About average

Honda FR-V

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.91, 95% CI 0.89–0.93), from 9,904 MOT tests at 13 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 37.8% (36.9%–38.7%), against 41.5% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 39.7%. Rank range 7–8.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at an MPV; the ones tested were 61% petrol, 39% diesel.

8 · About average

Honda Civic

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.91, 95% CI 0.91–0.91), from 742,109 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 26.1% (26.0%–26.2%), against 28.6% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 26.6%. Rank range 7–8.

Check before you buy: fails on lights and electrics 1.23–1.24× as often as cars the same age (99,089 fails in 746,201 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were 76% petrol, 23% diesel.

How to choose Honda models with this list

  • Compare like with like: against cars the same age and mileage, this list runs from 35% fewer (Honda CR-Z) to about average (Honda Civic).
  • 4 of the 8 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 0 at least 20% more often; the other 4 are within that band, or too uncertain to say.
  • Look at what a model fails on: 1 of the 8 models above have a part that fails more often than on cars the same age.
  • Then check the one car: its own MOT history and advisories say more about it than its model's average.

Found one on the list? Check that car

A ranking compares models at the same age and mileage; it cannot say how one car was kept. A registration shows that car's own DVSA record: its MOT tests, the mileage at each test and the recall flag.

How we rank

2,533,495 MOT tests from 2022–2025 of cars 3 to 15 years old. For each model and age, the tests are split into 6 mileage bands (<30k, 30-60k, 60-90k, 90-120k, 120-150k, 150k+); the expected fails are what all cars of that age would fail in the same bands, corrected to the model's own mix of test years. The ratio of the model's fails to the expected fails sets its place. The adjusted rate is that ratio times the all-car rate at the model's own ages, so it reads against that rate: a model tested only at 3 to 5 years is compared with young cars, not with this list's average.

The 95% intervals cover sampling error only (Wilson intervals). A model is called fewer or more only when its interval is at least 20% from the all-car rate, overall and at 3 or more ages ("close to average" when the interval excludes the all-car rate by less); awards use the same rule. Test years: Each model's expected fails therefore use its own mix of test years 2022–2025, age by age; the mileage bands themselves pool the four years, which can leave a small bias in favour of models first sold late in the window. Generations of a model are pooled unless the data splits them; each row says which years it covers. How we compare

Limitation: MOT tests record roadworthiness defects on the test day. They do not record breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs, and they cannot separate design from upkeep: a model whose owners service it before every MOT looks better here. Only cars still on the road are tested.

More lists

Questions people ask

Which Honda models have the fewest MOT fails?

14,370 MOT tests at 10 to 15 years put the Honda CR-Z first: 35% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage; ranks 1 to 3 overlap, so it is level with the Honda CR-V. Next is the Honda CR-V: 35% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Which Honda models fail their MOT most often?

742,109 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years put the Honda Civic last of the 8 in this list: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.91).

How many Honda models are compared?

8 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 2,533,495 MOT tests in all; 4 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 0 at least 20% more often.

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 2,533,495 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.