2011 Honda Civic — MOT failures & pass rate
72,561 MOT tests on the 2011 Honda Civic are in this dataset, and 77.0% of them passed. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (22.9% 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 19.5% of tests against 10.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and headlamp aim — stop lamp alone was recorded 5,711 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.5% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.9% fail against 26.0% for diesel, a 3.1-point gap across 72,469 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 14,169 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.2% | 7,388 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.8% | 3,482 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.6% | 3,354 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 2,735 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 1,906 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 5,711 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,919 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 3,883 |
| 4 | Side repeaters | 3,071 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 2,733 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 2,555 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.2% | 18,987 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.3% | 16,207 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.5% | 14,844 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.3% | 8,923 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 8,917 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 5,267 |
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 | 1,355 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 13,309 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 27,135 | 22.3% |
| 90-120k | 20,704 | 25.6% |
| 120-150k | 7,474 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,552 | 27.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 70,195 | 22.9% |
| Diesel | 2,274 | 26.0% |
| Hybrid | 49 | 18.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,649 | 20.7% |
| 2022 | 14,696 | 21.9% |
| 2023 | 14,713 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 14,446 | 24.1% |
| 2025 | 14,057 | 24.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Civic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.2% 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 (4.8% 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 2011 Honda Civics pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 72,561 2011 Honda Civic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Honda Civic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.5% of tests, followed by suspension (10.2%).
Does the 2011 Civic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 72,561 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.