Honda C90 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda C90 car check
Is the Honda C90 reliable? We analysed 113,520 real MOT tests across 16,194 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda C90? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda C90 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and shock absorber has inadequate damping effect.. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda C90.
Honda C90 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda C90. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda C90 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda C90 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda C90 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda C90 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda C90 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda C90 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda C90 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda C90 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 57 | 84.2% | 13,959 | 22,000 | 27,358 |
| 2005 | 52 | 88.5% | 16,583 | 23,513 | 30,091 |
| 2003 | 958 | 83.4% | 6,790 | 13,752 | 22,628 |
| 2002 | 4,737 | 82.2% | 8,422 | 15,097 | 26,707 |
| 2001 | 6,938 | 83.0% | 9,591 | 16,717 | 27,180 |
| 2000 | 6,022 | 83.0% | 8,992 | 16,934 | 27,351 |
| 1999 | 6,680 | 81.7% | 9,508 | 16,974 | 27,247 |
| 1998 | 7,090 | 81.9% | 11,231 | 18,206 | 28,460 |
| 1997 | 7,447 | 82.4% | 10,714 | 17,418 | 26,670 |
| 1996 | 6,312 | 83.0% | 11,132 | 17,368 | 25,915 |
| 1995 | 3,842 | 84.5% | 12,357 | 19,033 | 27,500 |
| 1994 | 3,949 | 82.7% | 12,724 | 19,385 | 28,054 |
| 1993 | 4,800 | 83.1% | 12,287 | 18,979 | 27,888 |
| 1992 | 5,214 | 81.9% | 13,575 | 20,507 | 28,852 |
| 1991 | 5,820 | 82.3% | 12,320 | 19,890 | 28,228 |
| 1990 | 6,196 | 83.7% | 12,714 | 19,584 | 27,840 |
| 1989 | 6,708 | 81.6% | 12,825 | 19,210 | 26,580 |
| 1988 | 6,639 | 82.6% | 13,760 | 20,348 | 28,520 |
| 1987 | 5,816 | 81.8% | 13,266 | 19,783 | 27,772 |
| 1986 | 4,808 | 82.2% | 12,625 | 19,529 | 27,073 |
How Long Does a Honda C90 Last?
Based on 16,194 Honda C90 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda C90 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda C90 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Honda C90
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.5% MOT pass rate from 52 tests
81.6% MOT pass rate from 6,708 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda C90 is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.5% across 52 tests. The 1989 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda C90 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda C90 THIS CAR | 82.7% | 113,520 | 18,183 mi | 48 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 |
| Mazda E Series | 68.3% | 81,836 | 105,896 mi | 36 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda C90 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda C90 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Honda C90Should you buy a used Honda C90?
The Honda C90 has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.7% across 113,520 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Honda C90 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (2,049 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (1,053), and shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. (810). 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 C90 owner drives around 396 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 C90 models stay on UK roads for around 48 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.