2005 Honda Civic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 94,963 MOT tests, the 2005 Honda Civic recorded a 72.9% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 27.8%, so the 2005 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 18.7% of all tests — 5.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 9,409 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.0% in the 0-30k band and 30.8% in the 150k+ band, a 12.8-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.9pp more often than petrol ones (31.8% vs 26.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.7% | 17,800 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.2% | 12,564 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.2% | 11,579 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 5,415 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.7% | 5,383 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 4,838 |
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 | 9,409 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 8,147 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 6,408 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 5,369 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 4,663 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 4,390 |
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% | 37,090 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.1% | 31,460 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.8% | 25,465 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.0% | 19,920 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.9% | 11,310 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.6% | 10,045 |
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 | 950 | 18.0% |
| 30-60k | 8,431 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 22,165 | 24.8% |
| 90-120k | 30,080 | 27.8% |
| 120-150k | 22,406 | 29.7% |
| 150k+ | 10,705 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 90,371 | 26.9% |
| Diesel | 4,279 | 31.8% |
| Hybrid | 170 | 25.9% |
| Other | 74 | 18.9% |
| Electric | 68 | 17.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24,173 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 21,409 | 26.8% |
| 2023 | 18,853 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 16,438 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 14,090 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Civic
On a 2005 Civic, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.2% 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 (12.2% 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 2005 Honda Civics pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 94,963 2005 Honda Civic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Honda Civic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by suspension (13.2%).
Does the 2005 Civic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.0% in the 0-30k band to 30.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 94,963 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.