1992 Honda Prelude — MOT failures & pass rate
251 MOT tests on the 1992 Honda Prelude are in this dataset, and 82.9% of them passed. That is 5.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.9%. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (9.2%) and suspension (8.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, integral vehicle structure condition and joints — service brake performance alone was recorded 12 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.8% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 24.3% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 22.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 9.2% | 23 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.4% | 21 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 21 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 16 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 11 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 12 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 9 |
| 3 | Joints | 9 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 8 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 8 |
| 6 | Wipers | 8 |
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 | 22.3% | 56 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.3% | 51 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.5% | 49 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.1% | 43 |
| 5 | Tyres | 15.1% | 38 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.8% | 22 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 64 | 18.8% |
| 90-120k | 78 | 16.7% |
| 120-150k | 40 | 17.5% |
| 150k+ | 37 | 24.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 51 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 55 | 20.0% |
| 2023 | 50 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 49 | 8.2% |
| 2025 | 46 | 17.4% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Prelude
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 9.2% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (9.2% 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.
- Suspension (8.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.4% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1992 Honda Preludes pass their MOT?
82.9% of the 251 1992 Honda Prelude MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Honda Prelude?
Brakes, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by suspension (8.4%).
Does the 1992 Prelude get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.8% in the 60-90k band to 24.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 251 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.