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1997 Honda S-mx — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years
Current Age
40.6%
Latest Pass Rate
227
Total Tests (All Years)
159,681 mi
Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for S-mx

Compared to Average at Age 19

This car: 40.6%
Average: 55.4%

⚠️ 14.8% below average (7550 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Honda S-mx as it ages.

13 yrs31.3%
14 yrs57.6%
15 yrs60.6%
16 yrs45.5%
17 yrs59.4%
18 yrs34.4%
19 yrs40.6%

Bar chart showing pass rate by car age from 13 to 19 years

Fail Rate %
📊 View as table
AgePass RateTests
13 yrs31.3%32
14 yrs57.6%33
15 yrs60.6%33
16 yrs45.5%33
17 yrs59.4%32
18 yrs34.4%32
19 yrs40.6%32

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Honda S-mx pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

Trend shows declining over 7 years

Pass Rate %
📊 View as table
BuiltPass RateTests
2016 (19 yrs)40.6%32
2015 (18 yrs)34.4%32
2014 (17 yrs)59.4%32
2013 (16 yrs)45.5%33
2012 (15 yrs)60.6%33
2011 (14 yrs)57.6%33
2010 (13 yrs)31.3%32

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2010High Fail Rate
31.3%
Age (yrs) 13Tests 32Avg Mileage 118,587Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.1%
2011High Fail Rate
57.6%
Age (yrs) 14Tests 33Avg Mileage 124,844Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.2%
2012High Fail Rate
60.6%
Age (yrs) 15Tests 33Avg Mileage 132,859Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.3%
2013High Fail Rate
45.5%
Age (yrs) 16Tests 33Avg Mileage 139,135Top Failure Tyres — 54.5%
2014High Fail Rate
59.4%
Age (yrs) 17Tests 32Avg Mileage 139,396Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.9%
2015High Fail Rate
34.4%
Age (yrs) 18Tests 32Avg Mileage 144,947Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 65.6%
2016High Fail Rate
40.6%
Age (yrs) 19Tests 32Avg Mileage 159,681Top Failure Suspension — 137.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Honda S-mx, with age trends.

Suspension
50.0%
↑ Increases with age
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment
49.5%
↑ Increases with age
Steering
35.4%
↑ Increases with age
Tyres
33.4%
↑ Increases with age
Driver's View of the Road
31.3%
— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

CategoryAt YoungestAt OldestChangeTrend
Suspension21.9% (13 yrs)137.5% (19 yrs)
+115.6%
🔴 ↑
Brakes18.8% (13 yrs)46.9% (19 yrs)
+28.1%
🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment53.1% (13 yrs)78.1% (19 yrs)
+25.0%
🔴 ↑
Steering28.1% (13 yrs)37.5% (19 yrs)
+9.4%
🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Honda S-mx page →

About This Data

This page shows how Honda S-mx cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2010 to 2016, covering 227 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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