2020 Honda Jazz — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 33,804 MOT tests, the 2020 Honda Jazz recorded a 96.0% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 8.8% of the time, so this is 4.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (2.8%) and tyres (2.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and washers — wipers alone was recorded 901 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.9% versus 3.3%.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 3.8% of the time against 4.3% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 2.8% | 943 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.5% | 840 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 416 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.6% | 201 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 32 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 30 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 901 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 392 |
| 3 | Washers | 306 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 162 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 142 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 86 |
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 | 18.0% | 6,088 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.2% | 1,422 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.8% | 1,294 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 886 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 127 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.3% | 89 |
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 | 27,788 | 3.3% |
| 30-60k | 5,560 | 6.8% |
| 60-90k | 395 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 53 | 18.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 18,073 | 3.8% |
| Petrol | 15,731 | 4.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 39 | 5.1% |
| 2022 | 468 | 4.1% |
| 2023 | 11,099 | 2.9% |
| 2024 | 11,013 | 4.3% |
| 2025 | 11,185 | 4.9% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Jazz
On a 2020 Jazz, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (2.8% 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.
- Tyres (2.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2020 Honda Jazzs pass their MOT?
96.0% of the 33,804 2020 Honda Jazz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Honda Jazz?
Visibility, recorded in 2.8% of tests, followed by tyres (2.5%).
Does the 2020 Jazz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.3% in the 0-30k band to 18.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 33,804 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.