Honda Civic Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda Civic car check
Is the Honda Civic reliable? We analysed 9,391,580 real MOT tests across 693,715 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda Civic? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda Civic is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Civic.
Honda Civic Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda Civic. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda Civic MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda Civic to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda Civic Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda Civic fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda Civic Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Honda Civic models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Honda Civic Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda Civic owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda Civic MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Civic year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 193 | 81.3% | 27,316 | 40,542 | 49,379 |
| 2021 | 534 | 85.6% | 19,845 | 29,312 | 45,915 |
| 2020 | 12,859 | 89.9% | 19,321 | 29,154 | 42,928 |
| 2019 | 63,395 | 89.5% | 21,286 | 32,207 | 46,694 |
| 2018 | 83,322 | 88.3% | 23,947 | 36,027 | 51,639 |
| 2017 | 110,438 | 88.1% | 24,957 | 37,782 | 54,749 |
| 2016 | 138,665 | 87.0% | 28,508 | 44,067 | 65,394 |
| 2015 | 147,051 | 86.3% | 31,926 | 49,845 | 73,657 |
| 2014 | 161,818 | 84.6% | 34,802 | 54,795 | 81,106 |
| 2013 | 195,912 | 83.3% | 38,655 | 61,107 | 88,915 |
| 2012 | 187,303 | 82.3% | 39,284 | 62,384 | 90,433 |
| 2011 | 193,479 | 75.3% | 39,267 | 61,412 | 87,253 |
| 2010 | 329,949 | 74.8% | 43,971 | 69,488 | 98,655 |
| 2009 | 430,504 | 74.8% | 46,655 | 74,005 | 104,496 |
| 2008 | 573,963 | 74.7% | 50,131 | 78,524 | 109,230 |
| 2007 | 770,151 | 74.1% | 51,916 | 81,534 | 113,133 |
| 2006 | 659,860 | 73.7% | 53,029 | 83,329 | 115,394 |
| 2005 | 602,201 | 74.4% | 45,260 | 72,048 | 101,828 |
| 2004 | 631,914 | 74.2% | 47,044 | 74,453 | 104,631 |
| 2003 | 662,945 | 73.1% | 45,976 | 72,351 | 101,748 |
How Long Does a Honda Civic Last?
Based on 693,715 Honda Civic vehicles on UK roads.
Honda Civic Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda Civic 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 Civic
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.9% MOT pass rate from 12,859 tests
61.8% MOT pass rate from 2,332 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda Civic is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.9% across 12,859 tests. The 1986 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda Civic Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic THIS CAR | 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 |
| Honda Accord | 71.2% | 2,311,969 | 92,767 mi | 33 yrs |
| Seat Ibiza | 73.7% | 3,964,856 | 60,259 mi | 31 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate) and the Honda Cr-v (78.5% pass rate), the Honda Civic trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda Civic 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 CivicShould you buy a used Honda Civic?
The Honda Civic has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.7% across 9,391,580 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Honda Civic are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (307,913 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (187,316), and stop lamp not working (163,967). 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.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda Civic with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Honda Civic owner drives around 6,044 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 Civic models stay on UK roads for around 34 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.