2018 Honda CR-V — MOT failures & pass rate
50,365 MOT tests on the 2018 Honda CR-V are in this dataset, and 93.8% of them passed. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (10.2% fail rate), the 2018 CR-V comes out 4.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.4%) and tyres (2.7%) 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 tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 1,350 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.7% versus 3.6%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.7pp more often than petrol ones (7.1% vs 5.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 1,701 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.7% | 1,363 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.7% | 1,341 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.7% | 870 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 203 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 142 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,350 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,263 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 693 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 593 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 369 |
| 6 | Washers | 333 |
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 | 17.0% | 8,575 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.5% | 4,796 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.9% | 3,454 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 1,860 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 1,851 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 531 |
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 | 19,979 | 3.6% |
| 30-60k | 22,787 | 7.0% |
| 60-90k | 6,300 | 9.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,038 | 12.8% |
| 120-150k | 193 | 16.1% |
| 150k+ | 46 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 27,327 | 5.4% |
| Diesel | 23,033 | 7.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,217 | 3.9% |
| 2022 | 10,147 | 5.4% |
| 2023 | 10,078 | 6.4% |
| 2024 | 9,916 | 7.1% |
| 2025 | 10,007 | 8.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 CR-V
On a 2018 CR-V, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.7% 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 (2.7% 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 2018 Honda CR-Vs pass their MOT?
93.8% of the 50,365 2018 Honda CR-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Honda CR-V?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.4% of tests, followed by tyres (2.7%).
Does the 2018 CR-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.6% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 50,365 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.