2021 Honda Stepwagon — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 514 MOT tests, the 2021 Honda Stepwagon recorded an 85.8% pass rate. That is 7.3 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 6.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.4% of all tests — 8.0 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and wipers — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 43 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.7% in the 30-60k band and 21.3% in the 120-150k band, a 13.6-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 69 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.5% | 28 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.1% | 21 |
| 4 | Steering | 3.3% | 17 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.3% | 12 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.1% | 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 | 43 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 23 |
| 3 | Wipers | 22 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 21 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 12 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 12 |
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 | 19.1% | 98 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.6% | 80 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.8% | 66 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 45 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.4% | 33 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.1% | 26 |
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 | 78 | 7.7% |
| 60-90k | 208 | 12.5% |
| 90-120k | 151 | 17.2% |
| 120-150k | 47 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 110 | 7.3% |
| 2022 | 113 | 12.4% |
| 2023 | 108 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 91 | 15.4% |
| 2025 | 92 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Stepwagon
On a 2021 Stepwagon, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.5% 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 (4.1% 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.
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 2021 Honda Stepwagons pass their MOT?
85.8% of the 514 2021 Honda Stepwagon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Honda Stepwagon?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by visibility (5.5%).
Does the 2021 Stepwagon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 30-60k band to 21.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 514 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.