2014 Honda Stepwagon — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Honda Stepwagon passed 82.0% of its 500 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 19.4% of the time, so this is 1.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.6% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and linkage ball joint dust cover — position lamp alone was recorded 25 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.8% in the 30-60k band and 23.7% in the 150k+ band, a 13.9-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.7% in 2021 to 13.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 63 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.8% | 44 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.0% | 20 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 15 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.0% | 15 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.8% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 25 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 17 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 16 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 15 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 13 |
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 | 19.6% | 98 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.4% | 92 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.8% | 79 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 60 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.4% | 47 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.4% | 42 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 51 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 188 | 13.8% |
| 90-120k | 107 | 26.2% |
| 120-150k | 66 | 15.2% |
| 150k+ | 76 | 23.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 65 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 75 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 65 | 23.1% |
| 2024 | 87 | 11.5% |
| 2025 | 208 | 13.9% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Stepwagon
On a 2014 Stepwagon, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.8% 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 (4.0% 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.
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 2014 Honda Stepwagons pass their MOT?
82.0% of the 500 2014 Honda Stepwagon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Honda Stepwagon?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by suspension (8.8%).
Does the 2014 Stepwagon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 30-60k band to 23.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 500 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.