Honda Civic Type R — MOT pass rate & failures
The Honda Civic Type R passed 93.9% of its 1,012 MOT tests, covering model years 1998–2023. That is 14.7 percentage points better than the 20.8% fail rate across all Honda Civic versions, so the Civic Type R is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 16 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Civic Type R fails 5.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 3.1% at 60-90k, a spread of only 2.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 7.8% in 2023 to 5.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 302 | 91.7% | 8.3% |
| 2021 | 592 | 94.8% | 5.2% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.6% | 36 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.1% | 21 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.4% | 14 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 9 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 5 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.4% | 4 |
| 7 | Steering | 0.1% | 1 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 16 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 10 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 8 |
| 4 | Washers | 8 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 6 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 5 |
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 | 16.4% | 166 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.2% | 93 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.2% | 42 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 24 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 9 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 8 |
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 | 773 | 5.2% |
| 30-60k | 179 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 32 | 3.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 128 | 7.8% |
| 2024 | 402 | 6.2% |
| 2025 | 470 | 5.7% |
What to check before buying a Honda Civic Type R
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (3.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (2.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (1.4% 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 reliable is the Honda Civic Type R at MOT time?
93.9% of the 1,012 Honda Civic Type R MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.1% fail rate, better than the 20.8% average across all Civic versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda Civic Type R?
Tyres, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by visibility (2.1%).
Does the Civic Type R get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.2% in the 0-30k band to 3.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,012 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.