2018 Honda HR-V — MOT failures & pass rate
32,160 MOT tests on the 2018 Honda HR-V are in this dataset, and 94.3% of them passed. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 9.9% of the time, so this is 4.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.0%) and visibility (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 907 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 3.4% in the 0-30k band and 13.5% in the 120-150k band, a 10.1-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 5.2% fail against 7.3% for diesel, a 2.1-point gap across 32,155 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 7.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.0% | 967 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.0% | 965 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.7% | 540 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 499 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 156 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 57 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 907 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 552 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 502 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 476 |
| 5 | Washers | 245 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 167 |
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 | 19.8% | 6,381 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.7% | 3,131 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.9% | 2,225 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.6% | 1,169 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 786 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 184 |
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 | 16,452 | 3.4% |
| 30-60k | 12,791 | 7.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,502 | 10.5% |
| 90-120k | 343 | 14.6% |
| 120-150k | 52 | 13.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 25,814 | 5.2% |
| Diesel | 6,341 | 7.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,378 | 3.9% |
| 2022 | 6,447 | 4.4% |
| 2023 | 6,427 | 5.4% |
| 2024 | 6,396 | 7.0% |
| 2025 | 6,512 | 7.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 HR-V
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.0% 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 (3.0% 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 (1.7% 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 2018 Honda HR-Vs pass their MOT?
94.3% of the 32,160 2018 Honda HR-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Honda HR-V?
Tyres, recorded in 3.0% of tests, followed by visibility (3.0%).
Does the 2018 HR-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.4% in the 0-30k band to 13.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,160 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.