2001 Honda Insight — MOT failures & pass rate
361 MOT tests on the 2001 Honda Insight are in this dataset, and 76.7% of them passed. That is 4.5 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.5%) and brakes (10.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, service brake performance and headlamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 25 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.2% in the 30-60k band and 25.9% in the 150k+ band, a 7.8-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 31.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 45 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.8% | 39 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.2% | 26 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.1% | 22 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.5% | 20 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 25 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 19 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 18 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 14 |
| 6 | Wipers | 13 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 31.6% | 114 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.3% | 113 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.0% | 65 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.7% | 64 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.3% | 37 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.3% | 19 |
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 | 33 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 37 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 45 | 15.6% |
| 120-150k | 76 | 21.1% |
| 150k+ | 158 | 25.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 161 | 23.6% |
| Other | 96 | 21.9% |
| Electric | 55 | 25.4% |
| Hybrid | 46 | 21.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 72 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 72 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 79 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 71 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 67 | 22.4% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Insight
On a 2001 Insight, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.8% 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.
- Suspension (7.2% 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 2001 Honda Insights pass their MOT?
76.7% of the 361 2001 Honda Insight MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Honda Insight?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests, followed by brakes (10.8%).
Does the 2001 Insight get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.2% in the 30-60k band to 25.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 361 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.