2020 Honda CR-V — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 17,554 MOT tests, the 2020 Honda CR-V recorded a 96.0% pass rate. That is 4.8 percentage points better than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 8.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.6%) and visibility (2.6%) 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 467 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 9.0% versus 3.3%.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 3.7% of the time against 4.8% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.7% in 2021 to 4.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.6% | 462 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.6% | 451 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 277 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.5% | 91 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.1% | 20 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 467 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 349 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 326 |
| 4 | Washers | 87 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 55 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 51 |
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 | 14.9% | 2,616 |
| 2 | Other defects | 5.3% | 931 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.0% | 531 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 461 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.2% | 34 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.2% | 30 |
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 | 10,257 | 3.3% |
| 30-60k | 6,425 | 4.8% |
| 60-90k | 736 | 5.6% |
| 90-120k | 111 | 9.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 12,912 | 3.7% |
| Petrol | 4,635 | 4.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 48 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 228 | 2.2% |
| 2023 | 5,803 | 3.5% |
| 2024 | 5,699 | 4.0% |
| 2025 | 5,776 | 4.5% |
What to check before buying a 2020 CR-V
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 2.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (2.6% 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 (2.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2020 Honda CR-Vs pass their MOT?
96.0% of the 17,554 2020 Honda CR-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Honda CR-V?
Tyres, recorded in 2.6% of tests, followed by visibility (2.6%).
Does the 2020 CR-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.3% in the 0-30k band to 9.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,554 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.