2001 Honda Civic — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Honda Civic passed 72.4% of its 36,440 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 27.9%, so the 2001 Civic sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.9% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and position lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 3,076 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.3% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 42.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.9% | 6,906 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.9% | 5,427 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.3% | 3,757 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 2,369 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 1,939 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 1,878 |
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 | 3,076 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,927 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 2,700 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 2,416 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 2,085 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 1,845 |
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 | 42.8% | 15,579 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.1% | 12,070 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.6% | 10,055 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 7,148 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.1% | 5,119 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.0% | 3,993 |
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 | 516 | 19.0% |
| 30-60k | 4,336 | 20.9% |
| 60-90k | 9,417 | 25.3% |
| 90-120k | 11,174 | 28.7% |
| 120-150k | 7,302 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 3,477 | 32.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,289 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 8,385 | 27.4% |
| 2023 | 7,103 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 5,886 | 28.5% |
| 2025 | 4,777 | 27.0% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Civic
On a 2001 Civic, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.9% 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 (10.3% 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 2001 Honda Civics pass their MOT?
72.4% of the 36,440 2001 Honda Civic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Honda Civic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.9% of tests, followed by suspension (14.9%).
Does the 2001 Civic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.0% in the 0-30k band to 32.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 36,440 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.