2007 Honda Accord — MOT failures & pass rate
23,449 MOT tests on the 2007 Honda Accord are in this dataset, and 74.7% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 26.8% of the time, so this is 1.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.0% of all tests — 6.7 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,361 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.5% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.5pp more often than petrol ones (27.1% vs 23.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.0% | 4,461 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.4% | 2,900 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.9% | 2,086 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.4% | 1,258 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 1,186 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 799 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,361 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 2,031 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,933 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,565 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 1,094 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 780 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 38.0% | 8,910 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.5% | 6,455 |
| 3 | Brakes | 27.1% | 6,342 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.0% | 4,928 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.1% | 2,605 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 2,490 |
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 | 109 | 21.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,042 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,205 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 5,217 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 6,051 | 27.6% |
| 150k+ | 7,793 | 28.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,096 | 23.6% |
| Diesel | 11,349 | 27.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,048 | 24.5% |
| 2022 | 5,416 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 4,674 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 3,982 | 26.2% |
| 2025 | 3,329 | 26.0% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Accord
On a 2007 Accord, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.4% 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 (8.9% 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.
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 2007 Honda Accords pass their MOT?
74.7% of the 23,449 2007 Honda Accord MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Honda Accord?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.0% of tests, followed by suspension (12.4%).
Does the 2007 Accord get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.1% in the 0-30k band to 28.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,449 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.