2002 Honda Jazz — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 20,843 MOT tests, the 2002 Honda Jazz recorded a 72.2% pass rate. That is 1.7 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 29.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.6%) and suspension (15.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and component mounting prescribed areas — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,771 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.3% in the 0-30k band and 34.1% in the 150k+ band, a 22.8-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 53.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 3,669 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.9% | 3,309 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.7% | 1,813 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.4% | 1,549 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 1,236 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 1,185 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 1,771 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 1,555 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,492 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 1,457 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 1,323 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,261 |
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 | 53.4% | 11,127 |
| 2 | Brakes | 37.7% | 7,863 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.5% | 5,935 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 24.3% | 5,060 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.4% | 3,217 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.7% | 2,851 |
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 | 265 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 2,640 | 19.9% |
| 60-90k | 5,870 | 25.7% |
| 90-120k | 6,566 | 28.8% |
| 120-150k | 3,893 | 33.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,594 | 34.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,755 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 4,881 | 27.8% |
| 2023 | 4,100 | 28.5% |
| 2024 | 3,413 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 2,694 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Jazz
On a 2002 Jazz, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.9% 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.
- Brakes (8.7% 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 2002 Honda Jazzs pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 20,843 2002 Honda Jazz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Honda Jazz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.6% of tests, followed by suspension (15.9%).
Does the 2002 Jazz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 34.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,843 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.