2002 Honda Civic — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Honda Civic passed 72.3% of its 52,146 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (28.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests against 14.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 4,439 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.2% in the 0-30k band and 31.7% in the 150k+ band, a 13.5-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.7% 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 | 19.7% | 10,275 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.7% | 7,686 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.6% | 5,546 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 3,369 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.3% | 2,743 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 2,640 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 4,439 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 3,916 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 3,441 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 3,347 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 2,932 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 2,927 |
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 | 40.7% | 21,223 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.5% | 15,906 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.0% | 14,622 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.2% | 11,035 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.7% | 7,162 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.4% | 5,434 |
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 | 592 | 18.2% |
| 30-60k | 4,848 | 21.0% |
| 60-90k | 12,270 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 15,360 | 28.2% |
| 120-150k | 11,945 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 6,985 | 31.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 51,690 | 27.7% |
| Diesel | 456 | 33.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,303 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 11,939 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 10,232 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 8,563 | 27.6% |
| 2025 | 7,109 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Civic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.7% 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.
- Brakes (10.6% 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 2002 Honda Civics pass their MOT?
72.3% of the 52,146 2002 Honda Civic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Honda Civic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by suspension (14.7%).
Does the 2002 Civic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.2% in the 0-30k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 52,146 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.