2012 Honda Cr-Z — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Honda Cr-Z passed 84.2% of its 3,640 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 21.8% of the time, so this is 5.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (7.4%) and suspension (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, brake pads and wipers — service brake performance alone was recorded 136 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.8% in the 0-30k band and 20.9% in the 150k+ band, a 12.1-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — other fails 15.5% of the time against 16.4% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 7.4% | 271 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.8% | 174 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.9% | 141 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 138 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 113 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 44 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 136 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 104 |
| 3 | Wipers | 96 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 72 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 66 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 64 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 24.3% | 883 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.3% | 849 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.0% | 656 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 191 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.6% | 167 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.2% | 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 | 193 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 982 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,317 | 15.7% |
| 90-120k | 804 | 18.8% |
| 120-150k | 271 | 19.9% |
| 150k+ | 67 | 20.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 1,592 | 15.7% |
| Petrol | 929 | 16.4% |
| Other | 621 | 15.5% |
| Electric | 496 | 15.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 717 | 13.1% |
| 2022 | 721 | 14.6% |
| 2023 | 727 | 15.0% |
| 2024 | 724 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 751 | 19.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Cr-Z
On a 2012 Cr-Z, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (7.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (4.8% 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 (3.9% 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 2012 Honda Cr-Zs pass their MOT?
84.2% of the 3,640 2012 Honda Cr-Z MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Honda Cr-Z?
Brakes, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by suspension (4.8%).
Does the 2012 Cr-Z get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 20.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,640 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.