2014 Honda Fit — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Honda Fit passed 92.8% of its 1,614 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (20.9% fail rate), the 2014 Fit comes out 13.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.4% of tests against 3.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, ball joint dust cover and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 61 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.3% in the 0-30k band and 21.9% in the 90-120k band, a 14.6-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 8.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.3% of tests failed in 2022 against 7.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 104 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.0% | 48 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.7% | 28 |
| 4 | Tyres | 1.6% | 25 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.7% | 11 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 61 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 38 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 27 |
| 4 | Wipers | 24 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 18 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
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 | 8.9% | 143 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.5% | 73 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 48 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.6% | 42 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.6% | 25 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.6% | 25 |
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 | 136 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 886 | 6.8% |
| 60-90k | 542 | 6.6% |
| 90-120k | 41 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 1,446 | 7.1% |
| Petrol | 163 | 8.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 38 | 5.3% |
| 2023 | 174 | 6.3% |
| 2024 | 415 | 7.0% |
| 2025 | 972 | 7.6% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Fit
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.0% 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.
- Visibility (1.7% 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.
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 2014 Honda Fits pass their MOT?
92.8% of the 1,614 2014 Honda Fit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Honda Fit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by suspension (3.0%).
Does the 2014 Fit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,614 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.