2020 Honda Civic Ex Line Vtec — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,035 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Honda Civic Ex Line Vtec, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, tyres and brakes. Its pass rate of 93.9% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 12.9% in the 60-90k group versus 3.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.8% | 39 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.7% | 28 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.3% | 24 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 10 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.2% | 2 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.1% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 34 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 23 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 20 |
| 4 | Washers | 15 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 3 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.1% | 208 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.9% | 154 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 51 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 39 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.3% | 3 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 3 |
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 | 648 | 3.5% |
| 30-60k | 354 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 31 | 12.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 339 | 4.7% |
| 2024 | 330 | 5.5% |
| 2025 | 345 | 8.4% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Civic Ex Line Vtec
Before buying a 2020 Honda Civic Ex Line Vtec, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 3.8% of tests for this year.
- Visibility (3.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (2.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (2.3% 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 2020 Honda Civic Ex Line Vtecs pass their MOT?
93.9% of the 1,035 2020 Honda Civic Ex Line Vtec MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Honda Civic Ex Line Vtec?
Visibility, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by tyres (2.7%).
Does the 2020 Civic Ex Line Vtec get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.5% in the 0-30k band to 12.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,035 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.