2021 Honda Civic Sr Vtec — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,148 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Honda Civic Sr Vtec, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, tyres and brakes. Its pass rate of 93.1% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 13.7% in the 60-90k group versus 4.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.3% | 92 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.1% | 67 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.2% | 48 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 32 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 6 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 95 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 56 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 48 |
| 4 | Washers | 28 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 7 |
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 | 21.8% | 468 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.8% | 318 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.0% | 107 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.2% | 68 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 64 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 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 | 1,418 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 676 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 51 | 13.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 38 | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 1,026 | 4.3% |
| 2025 | 1,084 | 9.6% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Civic Sr Vtec
Before buying a 2021 Honda Civic Sr Vtec, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 4.3% of tests for this year.
- Visibility (4.3% 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 (3.1% 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 (2.2% 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 2021 Honda Civic Sr Vtecs pass their MOT?
93.1% of the 2,148 2021 Honda Civic Sr Vtec MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Honda Civic Sr Vtec?
Visibility, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by tyres (3.1%).
Does the 2021 Civic Sr Vtec get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 13.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,148 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.