2002 Honda Accord — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,910 MOT tests analysed for the 2002 Honda Accord, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 67.8% was below the average for large family cars of a similar age (72.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 35.3% in the 150k+ group versus 17.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 861 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.7% | 723 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 11.8% | 582 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.6% | 567 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 542 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.8% | 383 |
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 | 618 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 602 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 442 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 408 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 358 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 268 |
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 | 30.3% | 1,488 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.2% | 1,383 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.3% | 1,240 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 890 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.5% | 860 |
| 6 | Other defects | 17.3% | 851 |
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 | 57 | 17.5% |
| 30-60k | 523 | 25.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,471 | 30.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,522 | 33.6% |
| 120-150k | 864 | 36.6% |
| 150k+ | 428 | 35.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,518 | 32.7% |
| 2022 | 1,191 | 33.3% |
| 2023 | 920 | 32.8% |
| 2024 | 712 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 569 | 29.9% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Accord
Before buying a 2002 Honda Accord, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.7% 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 (11.8% 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 2002 Honda Accords pass their MOT?
67.8% of the 4,910 2002 Honda Accord MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Honda Accord?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests, followed by suspension (14.7%).
Does the 2002 Accord get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.5% in the 0-30k band to 35.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,910 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.