2018 Honda Stepwagon — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Honda Stepwagon passed 81.7% of its 465 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 11.0% of the time, so this is 7.3pp worse 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 17.6% of all tests — 9.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp aim and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 40 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 28.0% once past 150k — 2.9× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 22.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.4% in 2021 to 16.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 82 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.6% | 40 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.3% | 20 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 19 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 12 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.4% | 11 |
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 | 40 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 37 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 32 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 20 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 17 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 17 |
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 | 22.8% | 106 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.4% | 95 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.6% | 91 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 79 |
| 5 | Steering | 9.7% | 45 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.0% | 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 | 52 | 9.6% |
| 60-90k | 123 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 152 | 21.7% |
| 120-150k | 78 | 17.9% |
| 150k+ | 50 | 28.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 93 | 19.4% |
| 2022 | 92 | 14.1% |
| 2023 | 107 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 81 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 92 | 16.3% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Stepwagon
On a 2018 Stepwagon, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.6% 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 (4.3% 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.
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 2018 Honda Stepwagons pass their MOT?
81.7% of the 465 2018 Honda Stepwagon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Honda Stepwagon?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.6% of tests, followed by suspension (8.6%).
Does the 2018 Stepwagon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 30-60k band to 28.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 465 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.