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Honda S2000 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda S2000 car check

Is the Honda S2000 reliable? We analysed 158,239 real MOT tests across 9,783 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 158,239 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.9%
Typical Mileage
58,538mi
Annual Mileage
2,748mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
27yrs

The Honda S2000 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake binding and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda S2000.

Honda S2000 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda S2000. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda S2000 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda S2000 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

82.1%
2011
84.4%
2010
89.1%
2009
86.8%
2008
85.3%
2007
84.9%
2006
83.8%
2005
83%
2004
80.5%
2003
80.8%
2002
77.9%
2001
76.5%
2000
77.2%
1999

Honda S2000 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda S2000 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 6,528
brake binding 1,715
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 1,547
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 1,521
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1,386
position lamp(s) not working 924
Registration plate lamp not working 908
Brake pipe excessively corroded 889
Anti-roll bar linkage insecure 852

Honda S2000 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda S2000 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,100 mi/yr
Typical
2,748 mi/yr
Average
3,970 mi/yr
Heavy usage
5,586 mi/yr

Honda S2000 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda S2000 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2011 56 82.1% 107,899 115,648 131,882
2010 77 84.4% 27,716 36,139 55,362
2009 6,374 89.1% 21,188 33,540 51,912
2008 5,712 86.8% 24,072 40,687 61,053
2007 10,924 85.3% 27,254 44,818 69,400
2006 13,887 84.9% 31,438 49,794 71,469
2005 19,171 83.8% 33,339 53,119 76,712
2004 21,117 83.0% 34,836 55,635 80,858
2003 22,351 80.5% 38,978 60,425 84,462
2002 23,933 80.8% 44,778 66,299 90,472
2001 11,111 77.9% 49,565 71,236 95,235
2000 15,227 76.5% 52,228 74,430 98,564
1999 7,402 77.2% 50,263 73,297 97,891

How Long Does a Honda S2000 Last?

Based on 9,783 Honda S2000 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
16.8 years
Median
18.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
27 years

Honda S2000 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda S2000 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
58,538 mi
75th Percentile
84,098 mi
95th Percentile
123,892 mi
Max Recorded
994,474 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda S2000

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

Best year
2009

89.1% MOT pass rate from 6,374 tests

Year to avoid
2000

76.5% MOT pass rate from 15,227 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda S2000 is 2009, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.1% across 6,374 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 76.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda S2000 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda S2000 THIS CAR 81.9% 158,239 58,538 mi 27 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
Smart (mcc) Forfour 78.9% 256,394 38,541 mi 22 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda S2000 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda S2000?

The Honda S2000 has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.9% across 158,239 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 S2000 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (6,528 recorded failures), brake binding (1,715), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (1,547). 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 S2000 owner drives around 2,748 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 S2000 models stay on UK roads for around 27 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 S2000 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda S2000 reliable?
Based on 158,239 MOT tests, the Honda S2000 has a 81.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda S2000?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake binding, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda S2000 do per year?
The typical Honda S2000 does around 2,748 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda S2000 last?
Most Honda S2000 models stay on UK roads for around 27 years based on our analysis of 9,783 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda S2000?
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 S2000?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda S2000 is 2009 with a 89.1% pass rate across 6,374 tests.