Honda Crx MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 37 model years and 2,309 tests, the Honda Crx passes its MOT 77.8% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 24.6% of the time, so this is 2.4pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.1% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — service brake performance alone was recorded 173 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Crx fails 19.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 23.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 25.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.5% in 2021 to 19.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Crx model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 92 | 83.7% | 16.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 101 | 79.2% | 20.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 136 | 86.0% | 14.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 241 | 77.6% | 22.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 188 | 79.8% | 20.2% | Brakes |
| 1994 | 114 | 74.6% | 25.4% | Brakes |
| 1995 | 93 | 80.7% | 19.4% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1996 | 96 | 80.2% | 19.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 216 | 69.0% | 31.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 205 | 74.6% | 25.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 167 | 76.6% | 23.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 124 | 71.8% | 28.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 57 | 84.2% | 15.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 104 | 74.0% | 26.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 59 | 81.4% | 18.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 60 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Brakes |
| 2005 | 46 | 69.6% | 30.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 44 | 81.8% | 18.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 71 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 279 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.7% | 200 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.6% | 175 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 145 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 145 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.2% | 98 |
| 7 | Visibility | 4.0% | 93 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.9% | 68 |
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 | 173 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 163 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 136 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 119 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 85 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 77 |
| 7 | Joints | 77 |
| 8 | Pins and bushes | 68 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 25.6% | 591 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.9% | 482 |
| 3 | Tyres | 16.6% | 384 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.5% | 358 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.9% | 251 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.1% | 187 |
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 | 46 | 19.6% |
| 30-60k | 225 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 505 | 20.0% |
| 90-120k | 604 | 22.2% |
| 120-150k | 547 | 24.1% |
| 150k+ | 381 | 23.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 538 | 22.5% |
| 2022 | 507 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 463 | 21.8% |
| 2024 | 407 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 394 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a Honda Crx
- Lighting & signalling (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.7% 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 (7.6% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Crx?
77.8% of the 2,309 Honda Crx MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 22.2% fail rate, across model years 1985–2021.
What does the Honda Crx most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.1% of tests, then brakes (8.7%).
How much does mileage affect Crx MOT results?
Fail rates run at 19.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 23.4% for 150k+, a 3.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,309 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.