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Common problems by part

Honda Civic windscreen, wipers and mirrors problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 88,735 MOT tests · Updated

At 15 years, 5.8 in 100 MOT tests of the Honda Civic failed on windscreen, wipers and mirrors, against 6.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 88,735 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 5,113 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 23 ages from 3 to 25 years, 1,140,581 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid, 2.8 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

5.8 fails per 100 MOT tests at 15 years, against 6.5 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 15 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A windscreen, wipers and mirrors fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

Check the windscreen for chips or cracks in front of the driver, run the wipers and washers, and make sure both door mirrors are intact and adjust.

Honda Civic windscreen, wipers and mirrors fails by age

Honda Civic windscreen, wipers and mirrors fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Honda Civic. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.053 years: 2.3 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 25,317 MOT tests34 years: 4.0 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 37,328 MOT tests5 years: 4.9 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 46,919 MOT tests56 years: 4.1 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 57,431 MOT tests7 years: 3.6 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 59,711 MOT tests78 years: 3.9 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 60,576 MOT tests9 years: 4.2 per 100 (all cars 4.0), 61,332 MOT tests910 years: 4.4 per 100 (all cars 4.4), 58,492 MOT tests11 years: 4.5 per 100 (all cars 4.8), 54,791 MOT tests1112 years: 4.9 per 100 (all cars 5.2), 57,965 MOT tests13 years: 5.2 per 100 (all cars 5.6), 63,504 MOT tests1314 years: 5.6 per 100 (all cars 6.1), 74,100 MOT tests15 years: 5.8 per 100 (all cars 6.5), 88,735 MOT tests1516 years: 6.1 per 100 (all cars 6.8), 86,175 MOT tests17 years: 6.6 per 100 (all cars 7.1), 76,146 MOT tests1718 years: 6.7 per 100 (all cars 7.3), 62,744 MOT tests19 years: 7.1 per 100 (all cars 7.5), 47,645 MOT tests1920 years: 7.6 per 100 (all cars 7.6), 40,289 MOT tests21 years: 7.7 per 100 (all cars 7.5), 31,448 MOT tests2122 years: 7.7 per 100 (all cars 7.4), 21,226 MOT tests23 years: 7.3 per 100 (all cars 7.3), 14,519 MOT tests2324 years: 6.7 per 100 (all cars 6.9), 8,811 MOT tests25 years: 6.2 per 100 (all cars 6.7), 5,377 MOT tests25
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Honda Civic All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
325,3172.32.8
437,3284.03.6
546,9194.93.4
657,4314.13.3
759,7113.63.4
860,5763.93.7
961,3324.24.0
1058,4924.44.4
1154,7914.54.8
1257,9654.95.2
1363,5045.25.6
1474,1005.66.1
1588,7355.86.5
1686,1756.16.8
1776,1466.67.1
1862,7446.77.3
19*47,6457.17.5
20*40,2897.67.6
21*31,4487.77.5
22*21,2267.77.4
23*14,5197.37.3
24*8,8116.76.9
25*5,3776.26.7

All first-use years of the Honda Civic pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the windscreen, wipers and mirrors at 15 years

Fails

  • Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid: 2.8 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 2.3. Top up screenwash: estimated £2–£14 (0–0.1 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £2–£6) Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid MOT fail
  • Wipers not clearing screen: 1.6 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 2.4. Replace wiper blade: estimated £15–£30 (0.1–0.2 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £7–£14) Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively MOT fail

Top up screenwash cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

Buying a Honda Civic? Check that exact car before the viewing.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 1.8 petrol: 5.9 per 100 at 15 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 39,475 MOT tests)
  • 1.6 diesel: 4.3 per 100 at 9 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 27,682 MOT tests)
  • 1.3 petrol: 6.3 per 100 at 15 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 14,760 MOT tests)
  • 1.6 petrol: 8.1 per 100 at 20 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 24,964 MOT tests)
  • 2.2 diesel: 6.0 per 100 at 15 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 21,996 MOT tests)
  • 1.0 petrol: 5.5 per 100 at 5 years, fails 1.5–1.7× as often as petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 21,421 MOT tests)
  • 2.0 petrol: 4.1 per 100 at 15 years, fails less often than petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (0.6–0.7×) (all test years; 9,154 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

Check the windscreen for chips or cracks in front of the driver, run the wipers and washers, and make sure both door mirrors are intact and adjust.

Check one Honda Civic, not the average

The figures here describe Honda Civic cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Honda Civic problems

Windscreen, wipers and mirrors on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Honda Civic have more windscreen, wipers and mirrors problems than other cars?

5.8 in 100 MOT tests at 15 years, against 6.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 88,735 MOT tests).

How common are Honda Civic windscreen, wipers and mirrors problems?

5.8 in 100 MOT tests at 15 years failed on windscreen, wipers and mirrors, against 6.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 88,735 MOT tests).

What is the most common Honda Civic windscreen, wipers and mirrors fail?

2.8 in 100 MOT tests at 15 years: Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid (2,491 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 1,140,581 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare