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Honda Fes Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Honda Fes reliable? We analysed 1,844 real MOT tests across 277 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,844 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.8%
Typical Mileage
16,833mi
Annual Mileage
2,419mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
18yrs

The Honda Fes is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Fes.

Honda Fes Number Plates

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

Honda Fes MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

87.5%
2015
81.1%
2014
81.3%
2013
74.1%
2008

Honda Fes Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 23
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 20

Honda Fes Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Honda Fes models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 67
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 52

Honda Fes Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
817 mi/yr
Typical
2,419 mi/yr
Average
4,014 mi/yr
Heavy usage
5,052 mi/yr

Honda Fes MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2015 208 87.5% 7,758 12,939 21,961
2014 1,151 81.1% 8,892 17,108 29,477
2013 241 81.3% 9,452 19,998 30,034
2008 85 74.1% 9,984 21,459 28,337

How Long Does a Honda Fes Last?

Based on 277 Honda Fes vehicles on UK roads.

Average
8.5 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
18 years

Honda Fes Mileage Distribution

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

Median
16,833 mi
75th Percentile
28,384 mi
95th Percentile
59,332 mi
Max Recorded
136,500 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Fes

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

Best year
2015

87.5% MOT pass rate from 208 tests

Year to avoid
2008

74.1% MOT pass rate from 85 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Fes is 2015, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.5% across 208 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Fes Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Fes THIS CAR 81.8% 1,844 16,833 mi 18 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
Hyundai I30 Premium CRDI 80.9% 754 95,254 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Fes outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda Fes 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.

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Should you buy a used Honda Fes?

The Honda Fes has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.8% across 1,844 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common failure point is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm with 23 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda Fes 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 Fes owner drives around 2,419 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 Fes models stay on UK roads for around 18 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 Fes — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Fes reliable?
Based on 1,844 MOT tests, the Honda Fes has a 81.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Fes?
The most common failure point is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm.
How many miles does a Honda Fes do per year?
The typical Honda Fes does around 2,419 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Fes last?
Most Honda Fes models stay on UK roads for around 18 years based on our analysis of 277 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Fes?
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 Fes?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Fes is 2015 with a 87.5% pass rate across 208 tests.