2011 Honda CR-V — MOT failures & pass rate
58,949 MOT tests on the 2011 Honda CR-V are in this dataset, and 84.0% of them passed. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (24.0% fail rate), the 2011 CR-V comes out 8.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests against 6.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, individual direction indicators and position lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 1,732 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.5% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 14.4% fail against 16.8% for diesel, a 2.3-point gap across 58,949 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 6,247 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.1% | 3,619 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.8% | 2,235 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.5% | 2,093 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 1,765 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.6% | 926 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 1,732 |
| 2 | Individual direction indicators | 1,627 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,544 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,520 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 1,492 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 1,372 |
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 | 25.5% | 15,015 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.4% | 14,410 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.1% | 10,080 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 7,104 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.2% | 6,018 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 4,153 |
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 | 425 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 6,130 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 17,948 | 13.7% |
| 90-120k | 19,206 | 16.8% |
| 120-150k | 10,553 | 19.9% |
| 150k+ | 4,684 | 21.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 40,145 | 16.8% |
| Petrol | 18,804 | 14.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,828 | 13.4% |
| 2022 | 12,010 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 11,851 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 11,788 | 17.3% |
| 2025 | 11,472 | 18.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 CR-V
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.1% 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.
- Tyres (3.8% 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.
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 CR-Vs pass their MOT?
84.0% of the 58,949 2011 Honda CR-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Honda CR-V?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by suspension (6.1%).
Does the 2011 CR-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 21.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 58,949 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.