2011 Honda Freed — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Honda Freed passed 86.8% of its 272 recorded MOT tests. That is 10.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.0% of tests against 4.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and wipers — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 16 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.0% of tests failed in 2022 against 16.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 30 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.8% | 13 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.3% | 9 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 7 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.7% | 2 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.7% | 2 |
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 | 16 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 11 |
| 3 | Wipers | 9 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 8 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 8 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 5 |
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 | 15.8% | 43 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.6% | 26 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 24 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.6% | 18 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.4% | 12 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.7% | 10 |
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 | 63 | 3.2% |
| 60-90k | 158 | 15.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 217 | 13.8% |
| Hybrid | 55 | 10.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 43 | 7.0% |
| 2023 | 62 | 14.5% |
| 2024 | 74 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 87 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Freed
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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 (3.3% 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 2011 Honda Freeds pass their MOT?
86.8% of the 272 2011 Honda Freed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Honda Freed?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.0% of tests, followed by suspension (4.8%).
Does the 2011 Freed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.2% in the 30-60k band to 15.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 272 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.