2021 Honda CR-V — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Honda CR-V passed 95.8% of its 12,214 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 8.1% of the time, so this is 3.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (3.0%) and tyres (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 411 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 10.0% versus 3.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.9% in 2021 to 4.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.0% | 373 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.6% | 314 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 247 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.3% | 30 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 24 |
| 6 | Other defects | 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 | 411 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 290 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 230 |
| 4 | Washers | 61 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 31 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 23 |
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 | 15.0% | 1,827 |
| 2 | Other defects | 5.9% | 723 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.4% | 297 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.0% | 123 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.2% | 29 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 28 |
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 | 7,492 | 3.5% |
| 30-60k | 4,350 | 5.1% |
| 60-90k | 320 | 5.6% |
| 90-120k | 40 | 10.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 11,900 | 4.1% |
| Petrol | 312 | 8.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 32 | 21.9% |
| 2023 | 188 | 2.7% |
| 2024 | 5,992 | 4.0% |
| 2025 | 5,998 | 4.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 CR-V
On a 2021 CR-V, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (3.0% 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.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.0% 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 2021 Honda CR-Vs pass their MOT?
95.8% of the 12,214 2021 Honda CR-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Honda CR-V?
Visibility, recorded in 3.0% of tests, followed by tyres (2.6%).
Does the 2021 CR-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.5% in the 0-30k band to 10.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,214 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.