2002 Honda S2000 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Honda S2000 passed 84.0% of its 3,635 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.6 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 22.6%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (6.0%) and lighting & signalling (5.6%) 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 washers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 136 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 1.8% in the 0-30k band and 24.5% in the 150k+ band, a 22.7-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.1% in 2021 to 15.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 6.0% | 217 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 204 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.7% | 172 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.2% | 153 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 124 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.5% | 90 |
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 | 136 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 130 |
| 3 | Washers | 108 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 85 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 76 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 68 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 18.4% | 667 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.8% | 648 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.7% | 642 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 255 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.8% | 211 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 184 |
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 | 113 | 1.8% |
| 30-60k | 549 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,205 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,176 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 452 | 20.6% |
| 150k+ | 139 | 24.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 771 | 17.1% |
| 2022 | 771 | 17.0% |
| 2023 | 738 | 15.3% |
| 2024 | 680 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 675 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a 2002 S2000
On a 2002 S2000, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (6.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.7% 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.
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 2002 Honda S2000s pass their MOT?
84.0% of the 3,635 2002 Honda S2000 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Honda S2000?
Brakes, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.6%).
Does the 2002 S2000 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 1.8% in the 0-30k band to 24.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,635 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.