1991 Honda Nsx — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1991 Honda Nsx passed 94.8% of its 330 recorded MOT tests. That is 17.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.6%) and tyres (0.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, steering rack and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 8 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1991 Nsx fails 5.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 3.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.9 points.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.7% in 2021 to 4.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 12 |
| 2 | Tyres | 0.9% | 3 |
| 3 | Brakes | 0.9% | 3 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 3 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 2 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 2 | Steering rack | 4 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 4 |
| 4 | Wipers | 3 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 3 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 3 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 17 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.5% | 15 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.2% | 14 |
| 4 | Steering | 3.0% | 10 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.1% | 7 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 5 |
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 | 38 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 108 | 6.5% |
| 60-90k | 85 | 5.9% |
| 90-120k | 60 | 3.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 60 | 11.7% |
| 2022 | 59 | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 73 | 4.1% |
| 2024 | 69 | 1.5% |
| 2025 | 69 | 4.3% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Nsx
On a 1991 Nsx, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (0.9% 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.
- Brakes (0.9% 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.
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 1991 Honda Nsxs pass their MOT?
94.8% of the 330 1991 Honda Nsx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Honda Nsx?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by tyres (0.9%).
Does the 1991 Nsx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 3.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 330 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.