2002 Honda Jazz — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 20,843 MOT tests analysed for the 2002 Honda Jazz, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 72.2% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (70.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 34.1% in the 150k+ group versus 11.3% in the 0-30k group.
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
Before buying a 2002 Honda Jazz, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.6% of tests for this year.
- 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 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.