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Honda Accord Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Accord car check

Is the Honda Accord reliable? We analysed 2,311,969 real MOT tests across 198,303 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,311,969 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
71.2%
Typical Mileage
92,767mi
Annual Mileage
6,661mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
33yrs

The Honda Accord is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Accord.

Honda Accord Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda Accord. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda Accord MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda Accord to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

84.6%
2021
85.2%
2020
85.2%
2019
83%
2018
83.1%
2017
83.5%
2016
87.6%
2015
84.7%
2014
83.1%
2013
81.2%
2012
81.3%
2011
80.6%
2010
79.6%
2009
77.3%
2008
74.9%
2007
74.3%
2006
73.4%
2005
72.6%
2004
72.5%
2003
71.7%
2002

Honda Accord Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda Accord fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 104,224
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 78,175
position lamp(s) not working 60,219
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 53,983
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 50,621
Brake pipe excessively corroded 44,815
parking brake recording little or no effort 40,331
Stop lamp not working 38,995
constant velocity joint gaiter split 34,172
Registration plate lamp not working 31,987

Honda Accord Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda Accord owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,938 mi/yr
Typical
6,661 mi/yr
Average
7,953 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,281 mi/yr

Honda Accord MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Accord year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2021 52 84.6% 55,281 104,360 124,542
2020 88 85.2% 49,699 80,974 117,884
2019 122 85.2% 55,848 99,812 147,466
2018 94 83.0% 41,218 73,864 124,164
2017 148 83.1% 62,934 95,449 113,897
2016 139 83.5% 60,974 114,118 143,216
2015 1,618 87.6% 35,356 54,974 80,352
2014 4,950 84.7% 34,421 55,978 86,896
2013 6,665 83.1% 40,682 66,088 98,946
2012 18,398 81.2% 47,833 76,182 110,961
2011 21,959 81.3% 50,933 81,928 118,996
2010 25,375 80.6% 54,967 87,685 125,640
2009 69,279 79.6% 55,698 88,560 126,648
2008 84,461 77.3% 58,040 91,418 129,656
2007 126,551 74.9% 62,802 96,878 134,297
2006 145,328 74.3% 63,663 98,038 135,954
2005 197,983 73.4% 63,597 97,247 133,344
2004 223,258 72.6% 64,448 96,604 130,989
2003 154,029 72.5% 58,347 87,749 119,937
2002 140,773 71.7% 53,925 78,272 105,132

How Long Does a Honda Accord Last?

Based on 198,303 Honda Accord vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.5 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
33 years

Honda Accord Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda Accord MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
92,767 mi
75th Percentile
122,995 mi
95th Percentile
173,705 mi
Max Recorded
2,111,201 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Accord

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2015

87.6% MOT pass rate from 1,618 tests

Year to avoid
1971

55.7% MOT pass rate from 79 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Accord is 2015, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.6% across 1,618 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 55.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Accord Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Accord THIS CAR 71.2% 2,311,969 92,767 mi 33 yrs
Honda Civic 73.7% 9,391,580 74,987 mi 34 yrs
Honda Jazz 81% 5,740,892 48,635 mi 24 yrs
Honda Cr-v 78.5% 4,177,643 80,499 mi 29 yrs
Jaguar S-type 74.5% 942,176 77,805 mi 27 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Accord trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda Accord?

The Honda Accord has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.2% across 2,311,969 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Honda Accord are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (104,224 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (78,175), and position lamp(s) not working (60,219). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Honda Accord owner drives around 6,661 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Honda Accord models stay on UK roads for around 33 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Honda Accord — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Accord reliable?
Based on 2,311,969 MOT tests, the Honda Accord has a 71.2% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Honda Accord?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Accord do per year?
The typical Honda Accord does around 6,661 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Accord last?
Most Honda Accord models stay on UK roads for around 33 years based on our analysis of 198,303 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Accord?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Honda Accord?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Accord is 2015 with a 87.6% pass rate across 1,618 tests.