2000 Honda Civic — MOT failures & pass rate
13,561 MOT tests on the 2000 Honda Civic are in this dataset, and 74.4% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 2.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests against 9.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 1,055 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.4% versus 17.2%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 1,949 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.9% | 1,348 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 1,310 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 1,148 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 1,007 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.6% | 758 |
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 | 1,055 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 875 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 862 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 601 |
| 5 | Wipers | 589 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 577 |
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 | 39.1% | 5,297 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.4% | 3,990 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.7% | 3,483 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.2% | 2,330 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.1% | 2,184 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 1,943 |
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 | 232 | 17.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,098 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 4,046 | 24.4% |
| 90-120k | 3,885 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,141 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,150 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,941 | 25.8% |
| 2022 | 3,189 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 2,645 | 26.1% |
| 2024 | 2,038 | 23.4% |
| 2025 | 1,748 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Civic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.9% 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.
- Suspension (9.7% 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.
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 2000 Honda Civics pass their MOT?
74.4% of the 13,561 2000 Honda Civic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Honda Civic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by brakes (9.9%).
Does the 2000 Civic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.2% in the 0-30k band to 28.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,561 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.