Most Reliable Honda Models: Real MOT Data Analysis
We analysed 939,496 real UK MOT tests to reveal which Honda models pass most often, which years to buy, and which to avoid entirely.
939,496 MOT tests analysed
Real DVSA data covering every Honda model from 1986-2023
Key Findings
Most Reliable Model
Honda HR-V
87.5% pass rate
Best Single Year
S2000 2006 Petrol
83.2% pass rate
Honda vs National Average
72.1% vs 71.4%
+0.7% above average
Proven Durability Champion
S2000
+25.9% at 15-17 years
Honda sits near the middle of UK manufacturer rankings. We analysed 939,496 real MOT tests from the DVSA database to identify which Honda models outperform the brand average and which to avoid.
This isn't survey data or owner opinions. These are actual pass/fail results from UK garages, covering Honda models sold in the UK from 2000 to 2023.
How Honda Compares to Rivals
Honda ranks #126 out of 180 manufacturers with a 72.1% average MOT pass rate. That's above the national average of 71.4%:
| Manufacturer | Pass Rate | Rank | Tests Analysed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia | 73.9% | #114 | 886,268 |
| Toyota | 73.8% | #115 | 1,637,457 |
| Hyundai | 73.2% | #118 | 859,247 |
| Suzuki | 73.0% | #120 | 432,580 |
| Honda | 72.1% | #126 | 939,496 |
| Mazda | 71.9% | #128 | 534,605 |
| Nissan | 68.6% | #142 | 1,626,183 |
The verdict: Kia maintains a lead among competitors, while Honda sits at #126.
Best Honda Models by MOT Pass Rate
Looking at overall reliability across all years, here's how Honda's core models rank against the 71.4% national average:
| Model | Pass Rate | vs National (71.4%) | Tests | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HR-V | 87.5% | +16.1% | 32,788 | 1998-2023 |
| FIT | 85.1% | +13.6% | 2,584 | 2001-2023 |
| INTEGRA | 83.2% | +11.7% | 1,318 | 1986-2023 |
| S2000 | 80.2% | +8.8% | 5,145 | 1999-2016 |
| CR-Z | 76.5% | +5.1% | 3,862 | 2008-2023 |
| CR-V | 74.1% | +2.6% | 203,583 | 1992-2023 |
| INSIGHT | 70.4% | -1.0% | 9,133 | 2000-2023 |
| FR-V | 56.2% | -15.3% | 8,328 | 2004-2019 |
* Compared to overall 71.4% national average across all years. For year-adjusted comparisons that account for newer cars passing more often, see individual model breakdowns below.
Top performer
The HR-V leads Honda's lineup with an 87.5% pass rate.
Proven Durability Champions: Which Honda Models Age Best?
These Honda models have proven exceptional durability with 11+ years of real-world MOT data. They consistently outperform the national average for cars of the same age:
High-confidence data: Only vehicles with 11+ years of MOT history and 100+ tests are included in this ranking.
| Model | Year | Fuel | vs Same-Age Average | Tested At | Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2000 | - | All | +25.9% | 15-17 years | 83.7% |
| S2000 | - | All | +25.1% | 18-20 years | 81.3% |
| FIT | - | All | +21.2% | 11-14 years | 85.8% |
| STEPWAGON | - | All | +17.5% | 11-14 years | 82.1% |
| S2000 | - | All | +16.3% | 21+ years | 77.2% |
| STEPWAGON | - | All | +15.0% | 15-17 years | 72.9% |
| JAZZ | - | All | +12.8% | 11-14 years | 77.4% |
| CR-V | - | All | +12.3% | 11-14 years | 77.0% |
| CR-Z | - | All | +11.5% | 11-14 years | 76.1% |
| INSIGHT | - | All | +8.8% | 15-17 years | 66.6% |
How to read this: A score of "+15%" means the model passes MOTs 15 percentage points more often than the average car of the same age. These are proven results from vehicles that have genuinely aged well.
Proven durability champion
The S2000 outperforms the average 15-17 years-old car by 26 percentage points, with 1,122 MOT tests proving its reliability.
Early Performers: Strong Start, Unproven Durability
These newer Honda models (3-6 years old) show strong early results, but haven't yet proven long-term durability:
Important caveat: Durability NOT yet proven - too early to assess long-term reliability. Older versions of the same model may tell a different story at 11+ years.
| Model | Year | Fuel | vs Same-Age Average | Tested At | Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HR-V | - | All | +11.3% | 8-10 years | 86.8% |
| JAZZ | - | All | +11.0% | 8-10 years | 86.4% |
| CR-V | - | All | +10.1% | 8-10 years | 85.5% |
| E | - | All | +7.3% | 3-7 years | 92.0% |
| JAZZ | - | All | +7.0% | 3-7 years | 91.8% |
| CIVIC | - | All | +6.7% | 8-10 years | 82.2% |
| HR-V | - | All | +6.6% | 3-7 years | 91.3% |
| CR-V | - | All | +5.7% | 3-7 years | 90.5% |
What this means: These models are performing well in their early years, but we recommend checking the Durability Champions section above to see how older versions of the same model family have fared over time.
Honda CR-V: Year-by-Year Breakdown
The CR-V has 203,583 tests in our database with an overall 74.1% pass rate:
| Year | Fuel | Pass Rate | vs Same-Year Avg | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Hybrid Electric | 93.3% | +5.7% | 4,126 |
| 2020 | Petrol | 93.0% | +5.4% | 1,481 |
| 2019 | Hybrid Electric | 93.2% | +7.0% | 3,625 |
| 2019 | Petrol | 92.3% | +6.1% | 4,732 |
| 2018 | Petrol | 90.4% | +6.2% | 5,193 |
| 2018 | Diesel | 87.8% | +3.6% | 4,261 |
| 2017 | Petrol | 89.7% | +8.0% | 5,145 |
| 2017 | Diesel | 87.8% | +6.1% | 6,860 |
| 2016 | Petrol | 88.4% | +9.7% | 5,010 |
| 2016 | Diesel | 87.0% | +8.4% | 9,277 |
| 2015 | Petrol | 86.8% | +11.3% | 4,853 |
| 2015 | Diesel | 84.8% | +9.3% | 9,630 |
| ... | ||||
| 2007 | Diesel | 57.6% | +0.7% | 8,668 |
| 2006 | Petrol | 56.4% | +0.2% | 4,962 |
| 2006 | Diesel | 54.9% | -1.2% | 5,566 |
CR-V verdict: The 2020 hybrid electric model achieves a 93.3% pass rate (22 points above average). Avoid the 2007 diesel (57.6%).
Avoid 1999-2007 CR-Vs
The 2007 diesel CR-V has a 57.6% pass rate, well below the national average.
Honda HR-V: Year-by-Year Breakdown
The HR-V has 32,788 tests in our database with an overall 87.5% pass rate:
| Year | Fuel | Pass Rate | vs Same-Year Avg | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Petrol | 94.3% | +6.6% | 3,348 |
| 2019 | Petrol | 93.5% | +7.3% | 4,493 |
| 2018 | Petrol | 91.2% | +7.0% | 4,930 |
| 2018 | Diesel | 89.7% | +5.5% | 1,168 |
| 2017 | Petrol | 89.0% | +7.4% | 3,764 |
| 2017 | Diesel | 87.0% | +5.3% | 2,105 |
| 2016 | Petrol | 88.7% | +10.0% | 3,876 |
| 2016 | Diesel | 85.5% | +6.9% | 3,063 |
| 2015 | Petrol | 86.9% | +11.4% | 1,197 |
| 2015 | Diesel | 84.3% | +8.8% | 1,573 |
| 2002 | Petrol | 63.4% | +5.8% | 502 |
HR-V verdict: The 2020 petrol model achieves a 94.3% pass rate (23 points above average).
Honda Hybrids vs Petrol vs Diesel
Reliability varies by fuel type for Honda. Here's how each performs:
| Fuel Type | Average Pass Rate | vs National | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas Bi-fuel | 92.0% | +20.6% | 25 |
| Hybrid Electric | 86.6% | +15.1% | 26,543 |
| Electric | 75.6% | +4.1% | 3,865 |
| Other | 72.6% | +1.2% | 3,227 |
| Diesel | 71.9% | +0.4% | 192,325 |
| Petrol | 71.6% | +0.2% | 713,203 |
The hybrid advantage: Honda hybrids pass MOTs 15% more often than petrols and 15% more often than diesels.
Honda Models to Avoid
Not all Hondas are reliable. These specific model/year combinations have failure rates well above average:
| Model | Year | Fuel | Pass Rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCORD | 2000 | Petrol | 51.2% | 933 |
| CIVIC | 1997 | Petrol | 56.4% | 992 |
| CR-V | 1999 | Petrol | 55.1% | 641 |
| ACCORD | 2002 | Petrol | 50.5% | 703 |
| CR-V | 2003 | Petrol | 49.8% | 5,636 |
| CR-V | 2000 | Petrol | 54.4% | 936 |
| CIVIC | 2009 | Diesel | 53.1% | 5,225 |
| CR-V | 2002 | Petrol | 51.7% | 3,791 |
| ACCORD | 1999 | Petrol | 56.9% | 554 |
| CR-V | 2001 | Petrol | 53.2% | 1,458 |
Pattern to avoid
Early 1999-2002 petrol ACCORDs, 1997-2009 petrol/diesel CIVICs, 1999-2003 petrol CR-Vs are the models that drag down Honda's average. The CR-V performs 10% worse than the average car of the same age at 21+ years - this is proven poor durability. These models have significantly higher failure rates than average.
What Goes Wrong on Hondas?
When Hondas fail MOTs, these are the most common causes:
| Failure Category | Total Failures |
|---|---|
| 1. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 123,862 |
| 2. Suspension | 79,702 |
| 3. Brakes | 69,643 |
| 4. Tyres | 50,216 |
| 5. Visibility | 46,642 |
| 6. Noise, emissions and leaks | 26,471 |
| 7. Body, chassis, structure | 24,921 |
Pre-MOT checklist for Honda owners:
- Check all bulbs (number plate lights are commonly missed)
- Inspect suspension bushes and anti-roll bar links
- Check brake pad thickness and disc condition
- Ensure tyres meet 1.6mm tread requirement
- Clean windscreen and check wiper blade condition
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Buying Recommendations
Best If Buying Nearly New
2019-2023 models with highest early pass rates
- JAZZ CROSSTAR EX I-MMD CVT 2020 Hybrid Electric: 96% pass rate
- JAZZ EX I-MMD CVT 2020 Hybrid Electric: 95% pass rate
- HR-V 2019 Petrol: 94% pass rate
- JAZZ SR I-MMD CVT 2020 Hybrid Electric: 95% pass rate
Note: Long-term durability not yet proven for these newer models
Best If Buying Used (Proven)
11+ years of proven durability data
- S2000 (15-17 years): +22% vs same-age (proven at 11+ years)
- FIT (11-14 years): +21% vs same-age (proven at 11+ years)
- STEPWAGON (11-14 years): +16% vs same-age (proven at 11+ years)
- JAZZ (11-14 years): +9% vs same-age (proven at 11+ years)
Honda Models to Avoid (Proven Poor)
Proven below average at 11+ years - not just old, genuinely problematic
- CR-V (21+ years): -10% vs same-age (proven poor at 11+ years) (Below average at 21+ years)
- ACCORD (21+ years): -7% vs same-age (proven poor at 11+ years) (Below average at 21+ years)
- JAZZ (21+ years): -5% vs same-age (proven poor at 11+ years) (Below average at 21+ years)
About This Data
This analysis uses real MOT test results from the DVSA database, covering 939,496 tests on Honda vehicles between 2000 and 2023.
Year-Adjusted Scoring (v2.1): In year-by-year breakdowns, each vehicle is compared against the national average for vehicles of the same model year. This removes the natural bias where newer cars pass more often, allowing fair comparisons across eras.
Evidence-Tiered Durability: We separate "proven durability" (vehicles tested at 11+ years old) from "early performers" (3-6 years old). Only vehicles with proven long-term data are used for durability claims. Age-band comparisons use weighted national averages.
Minimum thresholds: 100 tests for proven durability rankings, 100 tests for early performer rankings. Pass rates are calculated as first-time passes, excluding retests.
The overall national average MOT pass rate is 71.44% based on 32,300,000 tests across all manufacturers. Year-specific averages range from ~59% (2009 vehicles) to ~88% (2020 vehicles).
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