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Honda Nsx Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Nsx car check

Is the Honda Nsx reliable? We analysed 8,302 real MOT tests across 746 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 8,302 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.9%
Typical Mileage
58,032mi
Annual Mileage
901mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
36yrs

The Honda Nsx is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive and exhaust emissions lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Nsx.

Honda Nsx Number Plates

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

Honda Nsx MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

82.6%
2019
93.8%
2018
93.4%
2017
93.2%
2016
95.3%
2015
86.6%
2006
92.9%
2005
90.6%
2004
92%
2003
89.6%
2002
91.4%
2001
88.2%
2000
86.4%
1999
88.9%
1998
88.8%
1997
87%
1996
85.6%
1995
84.9%
1994
85.7%
1993
89.8%
1992

Honda Nsx Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 191
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 61
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 57
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 49
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive 46
position lamp(s) not working 34
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 32
registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced 31
fog lamp not working 26

Honda Nsx Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
301 mi/yr
Typical
901 mi/yr
Average
1,790 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,234 mi/yr

Honda Nsx MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2019 69 82.6% 5,676 9,747 16,548
2018 65 93.8% 2,388 4,798 13,059
2017 514 93.4% 3,908 7,570 13,524
2016 133 93.2% 7,730 21,871 80,980
2015 106 95.3% 49,564 71,150 87,370
2006 67 86.6% 47,971 54,999 93,672
2005 352 92.9% 16,124 27,866 40,289
2004 254 90.6% 19,732 32,064 50,635
2003 312 92.0% 21,628 32,941 46,568
2002 393 89.6% 26,296 43,058 64,799
2001 163 91.4% 23,851 37,661 55,680
2000 289 88.2% 35,677 54,998 73,676
1999 338 86.4% 33,515 48,796 70,776
1998 324 88.9% 47,742 70,849 99,447
1997 589 88.8% 45,883 61,702 84,281
1996 633 87.0% 48,512 74,219 105,473
1995 624 85.6% 53,471 69,660 81,188
1994 238 84.9% 35,816 80,638 117,485
1993 463 85.7% 65,076 96,883 111,832
1992 588 89.8% 50,340 77,340 100,568

How Long Does a Honda Nsx Last?

Based on 746 Honda Nsx vehicles on UK roads.

Average
20.7 years
Median
23.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
36 years

Honda Nsx Mileage Distribution

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

Median
58,032 mi
75th Percentile
87,993 mi
95th Percentile
138,002 mi
Max Recorded
288,182 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Nsx

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

Best year
2015

95.3% MOT pass rate from 106 tests

Year to avoid
2019

82.6% MOT pass rate from 69 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Nsx is 2015, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.3% across 106 tests. The 2019 model year has the lowest pass rate at 82.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Nsx Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Nsx THIS CAR 88.9% 8,302 58,032 mi 36 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
Kia Ceed 2 Nav Isg 87.2% 4,796 31,954 mi — yrs

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

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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 Nsx?

The Honda Nsx has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.9% across 8,302 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 Nsx are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (191 recorded failures), exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (61), and exhaust emissions lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (57). 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 Nsx owner drives around 901 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 Nsx models stay on UK roads for around 36 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 Nsx — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Nsx reliable?
Based on 8,302 MOT tests, the Honda Nsx has a 88.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Nsx?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive, and exhaust emissions lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Nsx do per year?
The typical Honda Nsx does around 901 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Nsx last?
Most Honda Nsx models stay on UK roads for around 36 years based on our analysis of 746 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Nsx?
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 Nsx?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Nsx is 2015 with a 95.3% pass rate across 106 tests.