2012 Honda Insight — MOT failures & pass rate
8,096 MOT tests on the 2012 Honda Insight are in this dataset, and 86.7% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 21.0% of the time, so this is 7.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.2% of all tests — 8.7 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, position lamp and headlamp aim — headlamp alone was recorded 450 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.6% in the 0-30k band and 15.6% in the 150k+ band, a 7.0-point spread.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 1.5pp more often than other ones (13.7% vs 12.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 1,066 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.4% | 359 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.4% | 356 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.0% | 326 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 314 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 87 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 450 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 407 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 257 |
| 4 | Wipers | 253 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 239 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 207 |
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 | 22.7% | 1,836 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.6% | 1,746 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.2% | 1,066 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 909 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.1% | 578 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 313 |
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 | 243 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,112 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,586 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,275 | 13.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,121 | 13.6% |
| 150k+ | 2,751 | 15.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 4,215 | 13.7% |
| Petrol | 1,611 | 13.0% |
| Other | 1,185 | 12.2% |
| Electric | 1,079 | 13.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,991 | 10.4% |
| 2022 | 1,757 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 1,473 | 13.4% |
| 2024 | 1,467 | 16.8% |
| 2025 | 1,408 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Insight
On a 2012 Insight, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.4% 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 (4.4% 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.
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 Insights pass their MOT?
86.7% of the 8,096 2012 Honda Insight MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Honda Insight?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by suspension (4.4%).
Does the 2012 Insight get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 15.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,096 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.