2004 Honda S2000 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,906 MOT tests, the 2004 Honda S2000 recorded an 86.6% pass rate. That is 9.1 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 22.5%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (5.1%) and lighting & signalling (4.0%) 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 133 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.0% versus 3.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 18.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.1% | 199 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 157 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.8% | 148 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.3% | 128 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 127 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.6% | 64 |
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 | 133 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 124 |
| 3 | Washers | 103 |
| 4 | Wipers | 75 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 71 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 69 |
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 | 18.7% | 732 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.2% | 673 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.4% | 600 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 232 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.1% | 198 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 193 |
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 | 264 | 3.4% |
| 30-60k | 913 | 8.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,295 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 887 | 18.9% |
| 120-150k | 386 | 15.8% |
| 150k+ | 157 | 21.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 813 | 13.4% |
| 2022 | 803 | 13.7% |
| 2023 | 807 | 14.0% |
| 2024 | 734 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 749 | 12.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 S2000
On a 2004 S2000, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (5.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2004 Honda S2000s pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 3,906 2004 Honda S2000 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Honda S2000?
Brakes, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.0%).
Does the 2004 S2000 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.4% in the 0-30k band to 21.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,906 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.