2017 Honda Jazz — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 95,547 MOT tests, the 2017 Honda Jazz recorded a 93.7% pass rate. That is 7.0 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 13.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.4%) and visibility (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 3,086 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.2% once past 120-150k — 4.9× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.4% | 3,271 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.1% | 2,990 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.4% | 2,253 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 1,327 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.2% | 205 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 131 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 3,086 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,767 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,146 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 740 |
| 5 | Washers | 711 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 660 |
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 | 21.9% | 20,932 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 11,359 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.8% | 4,564 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 2,501 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 993 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 532 |
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 | 57,386 | 4.7% |
| 30-60k | 32,264 | 8.1% |
| 60-90k | 5,046 | 11.6% |
| 90-120k | 708 | 17.2% |
| 120-150k | 108 | 23.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 95,469 | 6.3% |
| Hybrid | 78 | 9.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,793 | 3.9% |
| 2022 | 19,042 | 5.4% |
| 2023 | 19,164 | 6.3% |
| 2024 | 19,154 | 7.6% |
| 2025 | 19,394 | 8.2% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Jazz
On a 2017 Jazz, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.4% 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.
- Visibility (3.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (2.4% 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 2017 Honda Jazzs pass their MOT?
93.7% of the 95,547 2017 Honda Jazz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Honda Jazz?
Tyres, recorded in 3.4% of tests, followed by visibility (3.1%).
Does the 2017 Jazz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.7% in the 0-30k band to 23.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 95,547 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.