Honda Odyssey MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 32 model years and 3,561 tests, the Honda Odyssey passes its MOT 84.2% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 20.2% of the time, so this is 4.4pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.4% of tests against 3.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp aim and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 219 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.6% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 19.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.3% in 2021 to 13.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Odyssey model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 42 | 76.2% | 23.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 109 | 78.0% | 22.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 119 | 82.3% | 17.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 110 | 81.8% | 18.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 175 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 301 | 86.4% | 13.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 274 | 83.2% | 16.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 226 | 80.1% | 19.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 184 | 85.9% | 14.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 119 | 81.5% | 18.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 127 | 89.8% | 10.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 339 | 87.6% | 12.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 246 | 85.0% | 15.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 273 | 91.2% | 8.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 226 | 82.3% | 17.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 159 | 84.9% | 15.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 195 | 84.6% | 15.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 94 | 86.2% | 13.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2021 | 90 | 78.9% | 21.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 443 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.8% | 134 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.7% | 133 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 130 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.5% | 126 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.8% | 66 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 65 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 59 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 219 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 125 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 110 |
| 4 | Wipers | 95 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 70 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 64 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 60 |
| 8 | Switch | 51 |
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 | 19.1% | 679 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.4% | 655 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.7% | 525 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.8% | 419 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 355 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.7% | 238 |
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 | 116 | 12.1% |
| 30-60k | 660 | 11.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,192 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 764 | 17.5% |
| 120-150k | 439 | 20.3% |
| 150k+ | 382 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,365 | 16.6% |
| Hybrid | 196 | 3.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 563 | 18.3% |
| 2022 | 615 | 18.2% |
| 2023 | 701 | 14.7% |
| 2024 | 776 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 906 | 13.6% |
What to check before buying a Honda Odyssey
- Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.8% 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 (3.7% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Odyssey?
84.2% of the 3,561 Honda Odyssey MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 15.8% fail rate, across model years 1994–2025.
What does the Honda Odyssey most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.4% of tests, then suspension (3.8%).
How much does mileage affect Odyssey MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 24.6% for 150k+, a 12.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,561 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.