2018 Honda Elysion — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 313 MOT tests, the 2018 Honda Elysion recorded a 76.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (10.6% fail rate), the 2018 Elysion comes out 13.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.6% of tests against 6.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, headlamp aim and rear fog lamp — headlamp alone was recorded 27 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 26.3% versus 21.6%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.7% in 2021 to 22.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 55 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.7% | 21 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.8% | 18 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.1% | 16 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 15 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.2% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 27 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 18 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 17 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 13 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 13 |
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 | 37.4% | 117 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.8% | 84 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.6% | 74 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 45 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.9% | 31 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.9% | 31 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 88 | 21.6% |
| 90-120k | 98 | 23.5% |
| 120-150k | 62 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 38 | 26.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 74 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 70 | 21.4% |
| 2023 | 74 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 50 | 22.0% |
| 2025 | 45 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Elysion
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.7% 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 (5.8% 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 2018 Honda Elysions pass their MOT?
76.4% of the 313 2018 Honda Elysion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Honda Elysion?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.6% of tests, followed by suspension (6.7%).
Does the 2018 Elysion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.6% in the 60-90k band to 26.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 313 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.