Honda Civic Initial MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 43 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 32.6%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Honda Civic Initial MOT Reliability Overview
The Honda Civic Initial is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 43 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.4% and a failure rate of 32.6%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Honda Civic Initial earns a "Good" reliability rating. The average Honda Civic Initial presents for MOT with approximately 74,643 miles on the clock. The 1999 manufacture year performs best with a 59.4% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Honda Civic Initial is Suspension, affecting 41.9% of all tests. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. The second most common issue is Brakes at 25.6%. Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions rounds out the top three at 14.0%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 46.5% | 20 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.2% | 13 |
| 3 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 25.6% | 11 |
| 4 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 23.3% | 10 |
| 5 | Tyres | 9.3% | 4 |
| 6 | Driver's View Of The Road | 7.0% | 3 |
| 7 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 4.7% | 2 |
| 8 | Non-component Advisories | 4.7% | 2 |
| 9 | Visibility | 2.3% | 1 |
| 10 | Items Not Tested | 2.3% | 1 |
| 11 | Registration Plates And Vin | 2.3% | 1 |
| 12 | Steering | 2.3% | 1 |
| 13 | Road Wheels | 2.3% | 1 |
| 14 | Body, Structure And General Items | 2.3% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 74,643 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 6.23 | 46.5% | 20 |
| Brakes | 4.05 | 30.2% | 13 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 3.43 | 25.6% | 11 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 3.12 | 23.3% | 10 |
| Tyres | 1.25 | 9.3% | 4 |
| Visibility | 1.24 | 9.3% | 4 |
| Body & Structure | 0.93 | 7.0% | 3 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.62 | 4.7% | 2 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.31 | 2.3% | 1 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.31 | 2.3% | 1 |
| Steering | 0.31 | 2.3% | 1 |
| Wheels | 0.31 | 2.3% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Honda Civic Initial has 74,643 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Honda Civic Initial has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.37% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Honda Civic Initial MOT Data
The Honda Civic Initial is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 43 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.4% and a failure rate of 32.6%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Honda Civic Initial owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on suspension and brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Civic Initial is likely to perform.
Suspension — 41.9% of failures
Suspension issues account for 41.9% of MOT failures on the Honda Civic Initial. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Brakes — 25.6% of failures
Brakes issues account for 25.6% of MOT failures on the Honda Civic Initial. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 14.0% of failures
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions issues account for 14.0% of MOT failures on the Honda Civic Initial. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs: £100–1,000+. Pre-MOT check: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Civic Initial?
Based on 43 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Honda Civic Initial has an overall pass rate of 67.4% (32.6% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Civic Initial?
The top 3 reasons a Honda Civic Initial fails its MOT are: 1. Suspension (41.9%), 2. Brakes (25.6%), 3. Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions (14.0%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Honda Civic Initial reliable?
With a 32.6% MOT failure rate, the Civic Initial is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Civic Initial?
Based on failure data, focus on: Suspension (41.9%); Brakes (25.6%); Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions (14.0%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.