2007 Honda S2000 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,669 MOT tests, the 2007 Honda S2000 recorded an 87.8% pass rate. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 21.6% of the time, so this is 9.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, visibility and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (5.3%) and visibility (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, catalyst emissions and washers — service brake performance alone was recorded 86 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.5% in the 0-30k band and 12.1% in the 150k+ band, a 5.6-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.5% in 2021 to 11.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.3% | 141 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.2% | 86 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 86 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.1% | 83 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 74 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.2% | 59 |
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 | 86 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 70 |
| 3 | Washers | 62 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 44 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 41 |
| 6 | Wipers | 41 |
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 | 17.2% | 460 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.2% | 406 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.7% | 285 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 109 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.4% | 90 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 85 |
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 | 325 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 935 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 827 | 13.9% |
| 90-120k | 403 | 16.6% |
| 120-150k | 119 | 16.0% |
| 150k+ | 58 | 12.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 566 | 12.5% |
| 2022 | 544 | 11.9% |
| 2023 | 552 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 506 | 11.7% |
| 2025 | 501 | 11.0% |
What to check before buying a 2007 S2000
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 5.3% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (5.3% 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.
- Visibility (3.2% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (3.2% 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 2007 Honda S2000s pass their MOT?
87.8% of the 2,669 2007 Honda S2000 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Honda S2000?
Brakes, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by visibility (3.2%).
Does the 2007 S2000 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 12.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,669 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.