2007 Honda Civic — MOT failures & pass rate
169,829 MOT tests on the 2007 Honda Civic are in this dataset, and 73.1% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 27.0%, so the 2007 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 19.9% of all tests — 5.7 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 16,820 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.2% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 12.7pp more often than electric ones (29.9% vs 17.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 33,847 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.2% | 24,190 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 14,687 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.2% | 10,586 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 7,755 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 5,702 |
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 | 16,820 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 12,637 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 12,400 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 7,779 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 7,217 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 7,104 |
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 | 38.4% | 65,140 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.3% | 49,796 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.7% | 45,337 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.9% | 35,509 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.1% | 28,957 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 16,483 |
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 | 1,018 | 18.8% |
| 30-60k | 8,165 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 29,797 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 54,152 | 26.9% |
| 120-150k | 45,510 | 28.9% |
| 150k+ | 30,898 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 118,388 | 26.3% |
| Diesel | 45,083 | 29.9% |
| Hybrid | 3,224 | 18.5% |
| Electric | 1,596 | 17.2% |
| Other | 1,538 | 20.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 41,824 | 26.0% |
| 2022 | 38,711 | 26.6% |
| 2023 | 34,605 | 26.8% |
| 2024 | 29,977 | 27.8% |
| 2025 | 24,712 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Civic
On a 2007 Civic, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.2% 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 (8.6% 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 2007 Honda Civics pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 169,829 2007 Honda Civic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Honda Civic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by suspension (14.2%).
Does the 2007 Civic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 169,829 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.