2011 Honda Jazz — MOT failures & pass rate
115,280 MOT tests on the 2011 Honda Jazz are in this dataset, and 85.8% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 24.0% of the time, so this is 9.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.8%) and brakes (4.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, wipers and brake pads — position lamp alone was recorded 4,912 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.6% in the 0-30k band and 24.1% in the 150k+ band, a 15.4-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 2.2pp more often than other ones (14.2% vs 12.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 8,969 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.9% | 5,697 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 5,095 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 4,742 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.7% | 4,310 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.8% | 928 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 4,912 |
| 2 | Wipers | 3,897 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 3,565 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,671 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 2,596 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 1,942 |
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 | 24.4% | 28,099 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.1% | 26,584 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.2% | 14,028 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.8% | 8,959 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 8,824 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.3% | 4,972 |
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 | 9,787 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 44,059 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 39,032 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 16,193 | 18.6% |
| 120-150k | 4,663 | 21.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,524 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 108,125 | 14.2% |
| Hybrid | 4,132 | 13.1% |
| Other | 1,823 | 12.0% |
| Electric | 1,171 | 14.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,244 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 22,634 | 12.6% |
| 2023 | 23,144 | 14.1% |
| 2024 | 23,673 | 16.1% |
| 2025 | 23,585 | 16.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Jazz
On a 2011 Jazz, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.9% 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 (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.
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 2011 Honda Jazzs pass their MOT?
85.8% of the 115,280 2011 Honda Jazz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Honda Jazz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by brakes (4.9%).
Does the 2011 Jazz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 24.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 115,280 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.