2001 Honda Accord — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,786 MOT tests, the 2001 Honda Accord recorded a 67.8% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail 28.1% of the time, so this is 4.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.6%) and suspension (14.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 556 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 36.3% versus 19.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.7% in 2021 to 30.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 793 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.9% | 715 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.4% | 595 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.5% | 504 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 470 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.3% | 350 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 556 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 516 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 408 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 361 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 316 |
| 6 | Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas | 274 |
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 | 35.7% | 1,709 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.6% | 1,510 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.3% | 1,212 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 873 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.9% | 857 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.9% | 810 |
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 | 62 | 19.4% |
| 30-60k | 511 | 24.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,291 | 31.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,474 | 32.4% |
| 120-150k | 970 | 36.7% |
| 150k+ | 454 | 36.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,501 | 33.7% |
| 2022 | 1,151 | 33.8% |
| 2023 | 891 | 30.3% |
| 2024 | 706 | 30.7% |
| 2025 | 537 | 30.0% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Accord
On a 2001 Accord, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.9% 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.
- Brakes (12.4% 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.
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 2001 Honda Accords pass their MOT?
67.8% of the 4,786 2001 Honda Accord MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Honda Accord?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by suspension (14.9%).
Does the 2001 Accord get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 0-30k band to 36.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,786 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.