2020 Honda Stepwagon — MOT failures & pass rate
565 MOT tests on the 2020 Honda Stepwagon are in this dataset, and 81.1% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (7.9% fail rate), the 2020 Stepwagon comes out 11.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests against 8.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and linkage ball joint dust cover — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 39 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.0% in the 30-60k band and 25.0% in the 120-150k band, a 16.0-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 23.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 91 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.1% | 46 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.1% | 23 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.5% | 20 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.0% | 17 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 10 |
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 | 39 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 31 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 30 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 26 |
| 5 | Wipers | 19 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 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 | Suspension | 23.2% | 131 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.1% | 119 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.1% | 108 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 93 |
| 5 | Steering | 10.1% | 57 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.8% | 50 |
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 | 67 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 193 | 18.1% |
| 90-120k | 193 | 21.2% |
| 120-150k | 84 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 118 | 16.1% |
| 2022 | 111 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 121 | 18.2% |
| 2024 | 102 | 18.6% |
| 2025 | 113 | 25.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Stepwagon
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.1% 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.
- Visibility (4.1% 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.
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 2020 Honda Stepwagons pass their MOT?
81.1% of the 565 2020 Honda Stepwagon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Honda Stepwagon?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by suspension (8.1%).
Does the 2020 Stepwagon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.0% in the 30-60k band to 25.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 565 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.