2000 Honda Accord — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 Honda Accord passed 70.3% of its 6,336 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.8 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests against 12.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and headlamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 833 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.9% versus 4.7%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 1,088 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.3% | 778 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 11.7% | 744 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.5% | 726 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 564 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.4% | 403 |
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 | 833 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 630 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 491 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 435 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 326 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 295 |
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 | 37.2% | 2,359 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.2% | 2,039 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.3% | 1,664 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.8% | 1,255 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.9% | 1,009 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.7% | 934 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 43 | 4.7% |
| 30-60k | 602 | 23.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,782 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,935 | 30.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,285 | 34.2% |
| 150k+ | 685 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,948 | 29.7% |
| 2022 | 1,518 | 28.8% |
| 2023 | 1,229 | 30.9% |
| 2024 | 911 | 30.5% |
| 2025 | 730 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Accord
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Emissions & environmental (11.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2000 Honda Accords pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 6,336 2000 Honda Accord MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Honda Accord?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by suspension (12.3%).
Does the 2000 Accord get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.7% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,336 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.