Honda Civic Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Honda Civic passes its MOT first time on 65.8% of tests, against 63.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. It beats 59% of cars on UK roads: about average. The VW Golf, Toyota Auris, Audi A3 and Škoda Octavia do better; the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 308 and Hyundai i30 do worse.

The headline hides a big split by year. Civics from 2012 on are among the best family cars, beating more than eight in ten cars; 2001–2011 cars beat about half, and 2010–2011 cars about four in ten.

At 6–10 years old a Civic passes about 4 percentage points more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage.

Lights are the weak spot: sidelights, headlight aim, headlight bulbs and brake lights all fail more often than on a typical car, and 2006–2011 cars fail on shock absorbers nearly 3 times as often. Better than average on body, emissions and steering.

Watch these weak spots

Shock absorbers1.8×as often as a typical car

Anti-roll bar links1.6×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Honda CivicTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 42%

Beats 67%

Beats 65%

Beats 61%

Beats 26%

Beats 27%

Beats 32%

Beats 44%

Beats 52%

Beats 44%

Beats 50%

Beats 48%

Beats 57%

Beats 58%

Beats 54%

Beats 54%

Beats 54%

Beats 49%

Beats 43%

Beats 34%

Beats 84%

Beats 86%

Beats 85%

Beats 88%

Beats 83%

Beats 75%

Beats 74%

Beats 77%

Beats 71%

Beats 66%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Petrol	2005–2017	771,300	67.1%	Beats 61%	B
1.6 Petrol	1993–2006	363,594	53.7%	Beats 46%	C
2.2 Diesel	2005–2014	302,743	57.1%	Beats 52%	C
1.3 Petrol	2003–2017	300,675	64.4%	Beats 46%	C
1.6 Diesel	2013–2020	280,545	80.2%	Beats 82%	A
2.0 Petrol	2001–2020	200,555	66.8%	Beats 77%	B
1.4 Petrol	1991–2005	148,371	54.5%	Beats 45%	C
1.0 Petrol	2017–2021	124,320	86.6%	Beats 67%	B
1.5 Petrol	1994–2021	88,784	82.5%	Beats 69%	B
1.3 Hybrid	2006–2010	19,692	66.8%	Beats 82%	A
1.7 Diesel	2002–2005	16,372	48.4%	Beats 41%	C
1.7 Petrol	2001–2003	5,890	58.2%	Beats 62%	B
1.3 OT	2007–2008	3,492	70.6%	Beats 91%	A

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Lights: 18.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 16.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

18.4% vs 16.2%

Suspension

11.2% vs 12.8%

Brakes

8.6% vs 9.7%

Tyres

6.7% vs 7.1%

Visibility

5.8% vs 6.0%

Body & structure

3.0% vs 5.4%

Emissions & leaks

3.0% vs 4.7%

Steering

1.7% vs 2.7%

Seat belts & airbags

1.0% vs 1.7%

Wheels

0.4% vs 0.4%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Lights
Sidelights are the Civic's most common MOT fail, on about 1 in 18 tests, and headlight aim, headlight bulbs and brake lights each fail about 1.2–1.3 times as often as on a typical car. Walk around with all the lights on while someone presses the brake.
Shock absorbers
On 2006–2011 cars they fail on about 1 in 19 tests, about 2.7 times the typical rate. Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle. Look for oil on the shock bodies.
Suspension arm bushes
Fail about 2.3 times as often as on a typical car on 2001–2005 cars. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for vague steering.
Anti-roll bar links
Fail about 1.6 times as often as on a typical car. Listen for knocks from the front over uneven roads.
Brake pads
Fail about 1.3 times as often as on a typical car, on about 1 in 36 tests. Look through the wheels at the pad thickness and listen for grinding.
Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)
On 2012–2016 cars it fails nearly twice as often as on a typical car. Make sure no tyre-pressure warning stays on after start-up.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Honda CivicTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Sidelights	5.5%	4.1%	1.3×
Headlight aim	5.2%	4.4%	1.2×
Headlight bulbs & units	3.9%	3.0%	1.3×
Brake lights	3.8%	3.2%	1.2×
Tyre damage & cracking	3.3%	3.7%	0.9×
Tyre tread depth	3.0%	3.0%	1.0×
Brake pads	2.8%	2.1%	1.3×
Windscreen wipers	2.7%	2.7%	1.0×
Windscreen washers	2.5%	2.7%	0.9×
Shock absorbers	2.4%	1.4%	1.8×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	52.5
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	45.0
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	39.1
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	36.1
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	30.3
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	27.2
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	26.1
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	25.3

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2021 Honda Civic2 engines89.3% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Petrol	7,288	89.9%	Beats 76%	B
1.0 Petrol	6,220	88.6%	Beats 55%	C

2020 Honda Civic4 engines88.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	11,561	89.1%	Beats 67%	B
1.5 Petrol	4,668	90.1%	Beats 81%	A
1.6 Diesel	3,909	86.9%	Beats 75%	B
2.0 Petrol	1,641	88.4%	Beats 55%	C

2019 Honda Civic4 engines88.0% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	30,025	88.0%	Beats 71%	B
1.5 Petrol	17,290	89.7%	Beats 90%	A
1.6 Diesel	11,080	84.8%	Beats 72%	B
2.0 Petrol	3,670	89.0%	Beats 77%	B

2018 Honda Civic4 engines86.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	36,811	86.2%	Beats 66%	B
1.5 Petrol	21,703	88.4%	Beats 87%	A
1.6 Diesel	15,724	84.3%	Beats 74%	B
2.0 Petrol	5,082	88.4%	Beats 81%	A

2017 Honda Civic6 engines85.7% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	39,703	84.9%	Beats 66%	B
1.5 Petrol	19,441	87.7%	Beats 88%	A
1.8 Petrol	18,274	87.6%	Beats 83%	A
1.6 Diesel	13,300	82.2%	Beats 68%	B
2.0 Petrol	5,846	87.6%	Beats 82%	A
1.3 Petrol	3,703	85.0%	Beats 68%	B

2016 Honda Civic4 engines84.8% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	53,045	82.1%	Beats 78%	B
1.8 Petrol	40,911	87.1%	Beats 88%	A
1.3 Petrol	24,534	84.9%	Beats 77%	B
2.0 Petrol	8,633	89.9%	Beats 99%	A

2015 Honda Civic4 engines83.9% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	62,789	81.8%	Beats 86%	A
1.8 Petrol	54,976	85.8%	Beats 91%	A
1.3 Petrol	10,248	84.0%	Beats 80%	B
2.0 Petrol	4,945	89.6%	Beats 99%	A

2014 Honda Civic4 engines80.6% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	63,551	78.7%	Beats 84%	A
1.8 Petrol	50,710	83.3%	Beats 89%	A
1.3 Petrol	12,075	80.1%	Beats 74%	B
2.2 Diesel	1,080	77.9%	Beats 79%	B

2013 Honda Civic4 engines77.8% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	57,147	75.5%	Beats 83%	A
1.8 Petrol	51,033	80.9%	Beats 91%	A
1.3 Petrol	18,455	78.0%	Beats 81%	A
2.2 Diesel	8,794	74.4%	Beats 81%	A

2012 Honda Civic3 engines75.5% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Petrol	56,519	78.5%	Beats 91%	A
2.2 Diesel	36,209	71.7%	Beats 79%	B
1.3 Petrol	22,813	74.2%	Beats 75%	B

2011 Honda Civic4 engines62.3% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	50,231	60.2%	Beats 25%	D
1.8 Petrol	43,250	64.2%	Beats 43%	C
2.0 Petrol	3,304	72.2%	Beats 78%	B
2.2 Diesel	3,056	59.1%	Beats 41%	C

2010 Honda Civic5 engines59.9% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Petrol	63,520	61.2%	Beats 45%	C
1.3 Petrol	44,398	57.4%	Beats 28%	D
2.2 Diesel	34,290	57.8%	Beats 45%	C
2.0 Petrol	8,542	70.1%	Beats 80%	B
1.3 Hybrid	1,540	67.5%	Beats 74%	B

2009 Honda Civic5 engines58.8% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Petrol	74,955	59.8%	Beats 49%	C
2.2 Diesel	46,348	55.4%	Beats 44%	C
1.3 Petrol	33,468	56.6%	Beats 35%	D
2.0 Petrol	21,731	64.9%	Beats 70%	B
1.3 Hybrid	2,950	68.9%	Beats 86%	A

2008 Honda Civic6 engines57.7% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Petrol	93,919	57.9%	Beats 52%	C
2.2 Diesel	55,860	54.5%	Beats 48%	C
1.3 Petrol	30,576	56.6%	Beats 45%	C
2.0 Petrol	22,869	62.5%	Beats 69%	B
1.3 Hybrid	6,455	66.5%	Beats 81%	A
1.3 OT	1,610	71.4%	Beats 91%	A

2007 Honda Civic6 engines56.6% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Petrol	115,827	56.7%	Beats 53%	C
2.2 Diesel	68,676	52.8%	Beats 45%	C
2.0 Petrol	28,701	61.2%	Beats 68%	B
1.3 Petrol	24,961	57.2%	Beats 52%	C
1.3 Hybrid	7,410	66.4%	Beats 83%	A
1.3 OT	1,882	69.9%	Beats 90%	A

2006 Honda Civic6 engines55.1% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Petrol	102,589	55.4%	Beats 54%	C
2.2 Diesel	46,975	52.9%	Beats 51%	C
1.3 Petrol	20,935	53.7%	Beats 45%	C
2.0 Petrol	4,934	69.5%	Beats 93%	A
1.3 Hybrid	1,337	65.2%	Beats 83%	A
1.6 Petrol	1,274	60.2%	Beats 66%	B

2005 Honda Civic7 engines56.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	93,309	55.3%	Beats 51%	C
2.0 Petrol	28,942	62.1%	Beats 78%	B
1.4 Petrol	13,069	57.2%	Beats 58%	C
1.7 Diesel	6,822	48.7%	Beats 38%	D
1.8 Petrol	4,817	54.3%	Beats 52%	C
2.2 Diesel	1,455	53.1%	Beats 55%	C
1.3 Petrol	1,082	60.0%	Beats 73%	B

2004 Honda Civic5 engines55.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	86,873	54.1%	Beats 51%	C
2.0 Petrol	24,067	60.9%	Beats 77%	B
1.4 Petrol	12,180	54.4%	Beats 52%	C
1.7 Diesel	5,302	48.2%	Beats 43%	C
1.3 Petrol	2,099	57.3%	Beats 65%	B

2003 Honda Civic6 engines52.9% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	62,531	51.4%	Beats 40%	C
1.4 Petrol	21,400	51.8%	Beats 44%	C
2.0 Petrol	15,022	60.5%	Beats 76%	B
1.7 Diesel	3,152	49.4%	Beats 46%	C
1.7 Petrol	1,536	56.1%	Beats 60%	C
1.3 Petrol	1,097	57.8%	Beats 69%	B

2002 Honda Civic5 engines53.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	47,624	51.6%	Beats 41%	C
1.4 Petrol	30,057	52.9%	Beats 48%	C
2.0 Petrol	11,246	63.0%	Beats 83%	A
1.7 Petrol	2,308	58.9%	Beats 65%	B
1.7 Diesel	1,096	45.5%	Beats 31%	D

2001 Honda Civic4 engines53.1% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	41,383	51.5%	Beats 38%	D
1.4 Petrol	23,571	54.5%	Beats 49%	C
1.7 Petrol	2,046	59.0%	Beats 62%	B
2.0 Petrol	1,380	68.6%	Beats 94%	A

2000 Honda Civic3 engines56.9% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	17,083	57.2%	Beats 52%	C
1.6 Petrol	8,349	56.8%	Beats 54%	C
1.5 Petrol	1,861	54.2%	Beats 47%	C

1999 Honda Civic3 engines56.3% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	11,126	55.4%	Beats 39%	D
1.6 Petrol	9,101	57.5%	Beats 50%	C
1.5 Petrol	2,432	55.4%	Beats 39%	D

1998 Honda Civic3 engines55.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	7,953	53.2%	Beats 23%	D
1.6 Petrol	4,616	58.1%	Beats 45%	C
1.5 Petrol	3,550	55.8%	Beats 37%	D

1997 Honda Civic3 engines55.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	6,255	54.8%	Beats 23%	D
1.6 Petrol	3,808	58.1%	Beats 37%	D
1.5 Petrol	3,481	53.8%	Beats 23%	D

1996 Honda Civic3 engines56.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	4,054	54.5%	Beats 19%	E
1.5 Petrol	2,586	56.8%	Beats 28%	D
1.6 Petrol	2,349	59.4%	Beats 40%	C

1995 Honda Civic2 engines65.7% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Petrol	2,816	66.6%	Beats 63%	B
1.6 Petrol	1,167	63.5%	Beats 51%	C

1994 Honda Civic1 engine68.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Petrol	1,668	68.6%	Beats 65%	B

1993 Honda Civic1 engine68.0% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	1,210	68.0%	Beats 67%	B

1991 Honda Civic1 engine65.6% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	1,623	65.6%	Beats 42%	C

FAQ

What is the Honda Civic MOT pass rate?

65.8% of Honda Civic MOT tests were passed first time, from 2.6 million tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 63.9%.

Is the Honda Civic reliable?

On MOT results it is about average overall: it beats 59% of cars on UK roads. Cars from 2012 on are well above average, beating more than eight in ten. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Honda Civic years are best?

2012–2016 cars beat more than eight in ten cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, and 2017–2021 cars about three in four.

Which Honda Civic years should I avoid?

2010 and 2011 cars do worst, beating about four in ten cars; 2001–2009 cars sit around the middle, beating about half.

Which Honda Civic engine is best?

The 1.8 petrol in 2012–2016 cars beats about nine in ten cars, the 1.5 petrol in cars from 2017 on nearly nine in ten, and the 1.6 diesel (2013–2020) and the 1.3 hybrid (2006–2010) more than eight in ten. The 1.0 petrol (2017 on) beats about two in three. The older 2.2 diesel beats about half, and the 1.3 and 1.6 petrols just under half.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Honda Civic?

Sidelights (about 1 in 18 tests), headlight aim, headlight bulbs and brake lights.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Honda Civic reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ