2017 Honda CR-V — MOT failures & pass rate
64,536 MOT tests on the 2017 Honda CR-V are in this dataset, and 92.5% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 11.8% of the time, so this is 4.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.3%) and lighting & signalling (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 1,596 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.3% once past 150k — 5.4× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 6.6% fail against 8.1% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 64,530 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.3% | 2,099 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 1,917 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.5% | 1,647 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.3% | 1,507 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 474 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 468 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,596 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,226 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,073 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 978 |
| 5 | Washers | 435 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 417 |
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 | 20.0% | 12,907 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.2% | 7,863 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.3% | 4,746 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 2,396 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 1,900 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.6% | 1,709 |
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 | 14,569 | 4.1% |
| 30-60k | 32,566 | 7.1% |
| 60-90k | 13,612 | 10.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,989 | 13.1% |
| 120-150k | 580 | 13.8% |
| 150k+ | 175 | 22.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 37,161 | 8.1% |
| Petrol | 27,369 | 6.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,767 | 5.4% |
| 2022 | 12,797 | 5.9% |
| 2023 | 12,945 | 7.6% |
| 2024 | 13,019 | 9.0% |
| 2025 | 13,008 | 9.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 CR-V
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.5% 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.
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 2017 Honda CR-Vs pass their MOT?
92.5% of the 64,536 2017 Honda CR-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Honda CR-V?
Tyres, recorded in 3.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.0%).
Does the 2017 CR-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.1% in the 0-30k band to 22.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 64,536 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.