2001 Honda S2000 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,388 MOT tests, the 2001 Honda S2000 recorded an 83.1% pass rate. That is 5.6 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 22.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.3%) and brakes (7.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and rigid brake pipes — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 60 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.8% in the 0-30k band and 23.9% in the 150k+ band, a 19.1-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 21.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.9% in 2021 to 13.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 102 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.1% | 98 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 58 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.1% | 57 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 49 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.0% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 60 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 39 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 35 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 34 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 33 |
| 6 | Washers | 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 | Brakes | 21.4% | 297 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.3% | 268 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.4% | 186 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 97 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.6% | 91 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 83 |
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 | 62 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 218 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 373 | 16.1% |
| 90-120k | 442 | 17.4% |
| 120-150k | 247 | 21.9% |
| 150k+ | 46 | 23.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 336 | 19.9% |
| 2022 | 291 | 16.8% |
| 2023 | 268 | 14.5% |
| 2024 | 266 | 18.1% |
| 2025 | 227 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 2001 S2000
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.1% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (4.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2001 Honda S2000s pass their MOT?
83.1% of the 1,388 2001 Honda S2000 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Honda S2000?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by brakes (7.1%).
Does the 2001 S2000 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,388 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.