2007 Honda Legend — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 629 MOT tests, the 2007 Honda Legend recorded an 84.3% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 26.9% of the time, so this is 11.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.4%) and suspension (6.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and wipers — ball joint alone was recorded 31 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 21.0% versus 8.2%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 25.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 53 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.0% | 38 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.1% | 32 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 24 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.7% | 23 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 31 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 26 |
| 3 | Wipers | 22 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 17 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 17 |
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 | 25.9% | 163 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.8% | 150 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.8% | 150 |
| 4 | Visibility | 11.1% | 70 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.2% | 58 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 85 | 8.2% |
| 60-90k | 179 | 13.4% |
| 90-120k | 190 | 17.9% |
| 120-150k | 94 | 19.1% |
| 150k+ | 62 | 21.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 142 | 12.0% |
| 2022 | 140 | 16.4% |
| 2023 | 129 | 17.8% |
| 2024 | 116 | 17.2% |
| 2025 | 102 | 15.7% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Legend
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.0% 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 (5.1% 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 2007 Honda Legends pass their MOT?
84.3% of the 629 2007 Honda Legend MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Honda Legend?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by suspension (6.0%).
Does the 2007 Legend get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 30-60k band to 21.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 629 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.