1990 Honda Civic — MOT failures & pass rate
747 MOT tests on the 1990 Honda Civic are in this dataset, and 82.9% of them passed. That is 2.5 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.2%) and suspension (7.0%) 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, wipers and joints — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 57 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.3% in the 30-60k band and 12.2% in the 150k+ band, a 4.1-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 25.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.8% in 2021 to 13.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 69 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.0% | 52 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 50 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.6% | 42 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.0% | 37 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 16 |
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 | 57 |
| 2 | Wipers | 30 |
| 3 | Joints | 25 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 24 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 23 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
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 | 25.6% | 191 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.3% | 152 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.0% | 149 |
| 4 | Tyres | 13.7% | 102 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.7% | 102 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.2% | 76 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 147 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 176 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 211 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 102 | 14.7% |
| 150k+ | 90 | 12.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 163 | 17.8% |
| 2022 | 159 | 18.2% |
| 2023 | 146 | 17.1% |
| 2024 | 141 | 18.4% |
| 2025 | 138 | 13.8% |
What to check before buying a 1990 Civic
On a 1990 Civic, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.0% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1990 Honda Civics pass their MOT?
82.9% of the 747 1990 Honda Civic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Honda Civic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by suspension (7.0%).
Does the 1990 Civic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.3% in the 30-60k band to 12.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 747 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.