2009 Honda S2000 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Honda S2000 passed 91.4% of its 1,866 recorded MOT tests. That is 11.7 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 20.3%. Failures cluster in brakes, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (3.0%) and visibility (2.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, wipers and catalyst emissions — service brake performance alone was recorded 42 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.7% in the 0-30k band and 18.6% in the 90-120k band, a 13.9-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 10.8% in 2021 to 7.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 3.0% | 56 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.7% | 50 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.4% | 45 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 32 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.6% | 29 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 20 |
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 | 42 |
| 2 | Wipers | 31 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 29 |
| 4 | Washers | 27 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 6 | Linkage | 15 |
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 | 14.8% | 276 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 229 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.9% | 167 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 70 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.5% | 46 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 39 |
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 | 466 | 4.7% |
| 30-60k | 842 | 7.4% |
| 60-90k | 391 | 10.7% |
| 90-120k | 118 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 389 | 10.8% |
| 2022 | 368 | 7.6% |
| 2023 | 389 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 359 | 7.0% |
| 2025 | 361 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a 2009 S2000
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 3.0% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (3.0% 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.
- Visibility (2.7% 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.
- Suspension (2.4% 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.
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 2009 Honda S2000s pass their MOT?
91.4% of the 1,866 2009 Honda S2000 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Honda S2000?
Brakes, recorded in 3.0% of tests, followed by visibility (2.7%).
Does the 2009 S2000 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.7% in the 0-30k band to 18.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,866 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.