2012 Honda Freed — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Honda Freed passed 91.4% of its 407 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (23.4% fail rate), the 2012 Freed comes out 14.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 7.4% of all tests — 4.4 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, wipers and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 15 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 10.5% once past 90-120k — 2.0× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 9.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 30 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.9% | 12 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.5% | 10 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.2% | 5 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.7% | 3 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 3 |
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 | 15 |
| 2 | Wipers | 12 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 11 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 6 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 6 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 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 | 9.8% | 40 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.7% | 23 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.7% | 19 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.9% | 16 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 15 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.2% | 5 |
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 | 135 | 5.2% |
| 60-90k | 213 | 9.9% |
| 90-120k | 38 | 10.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 295 | 9.2% |
| Petrol | 103 | 6.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 82 | 8.5% |
| 2024 | 116 | 7.8% |
| 2025 | 179 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Freed
On a 2012 Freed, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.9% 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.
- Tyres (2.5% 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 2012 Honda Freeds pass their MOT?
91.4% of the 407 2012 Honda Freed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Honda Freed?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by visibility (2.9%).
Does the 2012 Freed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.2% in the 30-60k band to 10.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 407 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.