MOT fail rates by first-use year
1999 Honda Civic MOT fail rate and common faults
How Honda Civic cars first used in 1999 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2024, against all cars of the same age. From 5,397 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 25 years, tested in 2024
What stands out
- In 2024, at 25 years old, Honda Civic cars first used in 1999 failed 38.0% of MOTs (1,425 tests), 1.7 points above the 36.3% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2024, as these cars went from 23 to 25 years old, the fail rate moved from 40.6% to 38.0%.
- Honda Civic cars first used a year earlier, in 1998, failed 40.4% at the same age of 25 years (1,276 tests, in 2023).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Honda Civic at 25 years, is component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength, at 5.4 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 4.2).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 23 years | 40.6% | 2,190 | 39.6% | +1.0 pts |
| 2023 | 24 years | 37.1% | 1,782 | 37.8% | −0.7 pts |
| 2024 | 25 years | 38.0% | 1,425 | 36.3% | +1.7 pts |
Most common faults at 25 years
These figures cover all Honda Civic MOTs at 25 years: cars first used 1997 to 2000, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=5,377). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | 5.4 | 4.2 |
| Driveshaft CV boot split | 5.0 | 2.2 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 4.8 | 3.4 |
| Brake light not working Wear | 4.5 | 2.6 |
| Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 3.7 | 1.1 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 3.6 | 3.1 |
| Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits | 3.4 | 2.2 |
| Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases | 3.2 | 2.1 |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear | 2.6 | 1.8 |
| Suspension arm bush worn | 2.2 | 1.1 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=5,377). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 15.8 | 4.9 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 13.6 | 10.1 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 13.1 | 14.9 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 11.2 | 14.1 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 10.8 | 9.1 |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Wear | 9.6 | 5.6 |
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated | 8.4 | 3.1 |
| Shock absorber misting oil | 6.4 | 2.8 |
| Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases | 5.8 | 5.3 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 5.2 | 3.8 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=5,377). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 25 years
These figures cover all Honda Civic MOTs at 25 years: cars first used 1997 to 2000, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=5,377). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 100.0% | 38.9% | 5,376 | 35.2% | 92,475 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 25 years
These figures cover all Honda Civic MOTs at 25 years: cars first used 1997 to 2000, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=5,377). At 25 years, Honda Civic cars at 90,000 to 120,000 miles failed more often (40.3%, n=1,532) than those at 60,000 to 90,000 miles (39.5%, n=1,569). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 39.5% | 1,569 | 35.4% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 40.3% | 1,532 | 38.4% |
Car tax rules for a 1999 car
- Cars first registered before 1 March 2001 are taxed by engine size: one annual rate for engines up to 1,549cc and a higher rate above that.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Petrol cars first registered before 2001 usually do not meet Euro 4, so they usually pay the ULEZ daily charge.
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 1999 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Honda Civic
More on the Honda Civic
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 1999 Honda Civic cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.