2010 Honda Freed — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 312 MOT tests, the 2010 Honda Freed recorded an 85.9% pass rate. That is 11.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.4% of all tests — 12.5 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and stop lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 24 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 17.6% versus 12.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 13.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 51 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.9% | 12 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.5% | 11 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.2% | 10 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.6% | 5 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 4 |
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 | 24 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 15 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 13 |
| 6 | Wipers | 11 |
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 | 13.8% | 43 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 30 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 27 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.4% | 20 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.5% | 14 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 14 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 86 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 152 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 51 | 17.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30 | 6.7% |
| 2022 | 41 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 67 | 13.4% |
| 2024 | 81 | 14.8% |
| 2025 | 93 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Freed
On a 2010 Freed, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.9% 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.
- Suspension (3.5% 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
How many 2010 Honda Freeds pass their MOT?
85.9% of the 312 2010 Honda Freed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Honda Freed?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by visibility (3.9%).
Does the 2010 Freed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 30-60k band to 17.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 312 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.