Honda Stepwagon MOT pass rate & common failures
15,291 MOT tests on the Honda Stepwagon (1986–2025) give it an 82.6% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 21.5% of the time, so this is 4.2pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
Best and worst Stepwagon years
Ranked across Stepwagon years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
The strongest year on this record is 2012 (88.4% pass rate); the weakest is 2008 (82.7%). Older cars carry more of the difference than the average implies.
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests against 6.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and headlamp aim — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 913 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.8% in the 0-30k band and 27.5% in the 150k+ band, a 12.7-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 19.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Stepwagon model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 48 | 68.8% | 31.3% | Brakes |
| 1998 | 53 | 69.8% | 30.2% | Suspension |
| 1999 | 57 | 70.2% | 29.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 37 | 73.0% | 27.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 135 | 73.3% | 26.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 153 | 74.5% | 25.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 392 | 80.1% | 19.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 563 | 82.1% | 17.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 653 | 76.7% | 23.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 373 | 79.6% | 20.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 577 | 81.1% | 18.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 1,202 | 82.7% | 17.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 1,187 | 83.2% | 16.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 2,207 | 86.0% | 14.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 1,344 | 83.9% | 16.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 1,037 | 88.4% | 11.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 855 | 88.4% | 11.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 500 | 82.0% | 18.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 554 | 74.7% | 25.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 617 | 78.3% | 21.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 576 | 79.2% | 20.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 465 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 572 | 82.2% | 17.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 565 | 81.1% | 18.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2021 | 514 | 85.8% | 14.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 2,121 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.4% | 981 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.8% | 580 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 538 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.0% | 467 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.2% | 342 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 285 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 273 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 913 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 748 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 725 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 408 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 399 |
| 6 | Wipers | 389 |
| 7 | Brake pads | 369 |
| 8 | Track rod end | 323 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.8% | 3,032 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.8% | 2,876 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.5% | 2,524 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 1,982 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.2% | 1,096 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.1% | 1,080 |
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 | 183 | 14.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,178 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 5,795 | 14.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,697 | 19.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,902 | 22.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,515 | 27.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 15,225 | 17.4% |
| Hybrid | 47 | 4.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,997 | 17.7% |
| 2022 | 2,494 | 16.7% |
| 2023 | 3,090 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 3,643 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 4,067 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a Honda Stepwagon
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.4% 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.
- Brakes (3.8% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Stepwagon?
82.6% of the 15,291 Honda Stepwagon MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 17.4% fail rate, across model years 1986–2025.
What does the Honda Stepwagon most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, then suspension (6.4%).
Which Stepwagon years are best and worst for MOT results?
2012 has the best pass rate at 88.4% and 2008 the weakest at 82.7%, from 1,037 and 1,202 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Stepwagon MOT results?
Fail rates run at 14.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 27.5% for 150k+, a 12.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,291 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.