1995 Honda Accord — MOT failures & pass rate
323 MOT tests on the 1995 Honda Accord are in this dataset, and 72.5% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 25.0% of the time, so this is 2.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (14.9%) and lighting & signalling (13.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, rbt (sp) and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 27 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.6% in the 30-60k band and 25.6% in the 150k+ band, a 5.0-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.9% | 48 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 45 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.6% | 31 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 27 |
| 5 | Suspension | 8.4% | 27 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.5% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 27 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 22 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 21 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 5 | Joints | 14 |
| 6 | Wipers | 14 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 28.8% | 93 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.5% | 92 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.6% | 73 |
| 4 | Tyres | 20.7% | 67 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 19.8% | 64 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.0% | 29 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 34 | 20.6% |
| 60-90k | 44 | 31.8% |
| 90-120k | 93 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 64 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 86 | 25.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 73 | 31.5% |
| 2023 | 70 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 52 | 19.2% |
| 2025 | 47 | 29.8% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Accord
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 14.9% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (14.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1995 Honda Accords pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 323 1995 Honda Accord MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Honda Accord?
Brakes, recorded in 14.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.9%).
Does the 1995 Accord get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.6% in the 30-60k band to 25.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 323 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.