Honda Civic Type R Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda Civic Type R car check
Is the Honda Civic Type R reliable? We analysed 390 real MOT tests across 239 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda Civic Type R? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda Civic Type R is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include headlamp aim too low, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Civic Type R.
Honda Civic Type R Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda Civic Type R. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda Civic Type R MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda Civic Type R to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda Civic Type R Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda Civic Type R fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda Civic Type R Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Honda Civic Type R models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Honda Civic Type R Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda Civic Type R owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda Civic Type R MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Civic Type R year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 176 | 95.5% | 8,150 | 12,723 | 20,735 |
How Long Does a Honda Civic Type R Last?
Based on 239 Honda Civic Type R vehicles on UK roads.
Honda Civic Type R Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda Civic Type R 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 Type R
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
95.5% MOT pass rate from 176 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda Civic Type R is 2023, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.5% across 176 tests.
How Does the Honda Civic Type R Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic Type R THIS CAR | 88.2% | 390 | 32,746 mi | — 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 |
| Mercedes Sl 350 Auto | 84.3% | 654 | 67,022 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Civic Type R outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda Civic Type R 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 Civic Type RShould you buy a used Honda Civic Type R?
The Honda Civic Type R has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.2% across 390 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 Civic Type R are headlamp aim too low (5 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (4), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (3). 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 has ply or cords exposed. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda Civic Type R 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 Type R owner drives around 5,226 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.
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.