2021 Honda Jazz — MOT failures & pass rate
30,008 MOT tests on the 2021 Honda Jazz are in this dataset, and 96.1% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (7.8% fail rate), the 2021 Jazz comes out 3.9pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.8%) and visibility (2.8%) 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 873 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 8.1% once past 90-120k — 2.3× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.8% | 845 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.8% | 837 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 349 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.2% | 64 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.1% | 27 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 873 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 367 |
| 3 | Washers | 174 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 168 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 43 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 29 |
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 | 18.6% | 5,585 |
| 2 | Other defects | 3.8% | 1,137 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.8% | 842 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 446 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 122 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 56 |
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 | 24,934 | 3.5% |
| 30-60k | 4,727 | 5.8% |
| 60-90k | 293 | 10.6% |
| 90-120k | 37 | 8.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 29,864 | 3.9% |
| Petrol | 142 | 13.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 60 | 3.3% |
| 2022 | 60 | 16.7% |
| 2023 | 361 | 5.3% |
| 2024 | 14,572 | 3.8% |
| 2025 | 14,955 | 4.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Jazz
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 2.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (2.8% 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 (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.
- 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 2021 Honda Jazzs pass their MOT?
96.1% of the 30,008 2021 Honda Jazz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 3.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Honda Jazz?
Tyres, recorded in 2.8% of tests, followed by visibility (2.8%).
Does the 2021 Jazz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.5% in the 0-30k band to 8.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,008 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.