2017 Honda HR-V — MOT failures & pass rate
31,498 MOT tests on the 2017 Honda HR-V are in this dataset, and 92.5% of them passed. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 11.8% of the time, so this is 4.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.4%) and visibility (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 951 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.6% versus 4.4%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (9.1% vs 6.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.4% | 1,064 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,033 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.3% | 733 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 517 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 396 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 117 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 951 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 656 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 455 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 414 |
| 5 | Washers | 346 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 194 |
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 | 20.5% | 6,453 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 3,984 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.2% | 2,284 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.2% | 2,254 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 824 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 267 |
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 | 10,539 | 4.4% |
| 30-60k | 14,995 | 7.8% |
| 60-90k | 4,806 | 11.9% |
| 90-120k | 953 | 14.2% |
| 120-150k | 158 | 14.6% |
| 150k+ | 41 | 14.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 19,962 | 6.6% |
| Diesel | 11,529 | 9.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,163 | 4.7% |
| 2022 | 6,278 | 6.8% |
| 2023 | 6,320 | 7.5% |
| 2024 | 6,314 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 6,423 | 10.1% |
What to check before buying a 2017 HR-V
On a 2017 HR-V, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.4% 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.
- Visibility (3.3% 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.
- Brakes (2.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2017 Honda HR-Vs pass their MOT?
92.5% of the 31,498 2017 Honda HR-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Honda HR-V?
Tyres, recorded in 3.4% of tests, followed by visibility (3.3%).
Does the 2017 HR-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.4% in the 0-30k band to 14.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,498 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.