Honda Accord
From 44,997 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Accords fare better: 2015 models pass at 86.5% vs 69.3% for 1998.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a lamp missing and inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 3,649 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 3,649 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 2,443 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,723 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 1,084 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 1,064 |
| headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 988 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 979 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 922 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 916 |
| a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 899 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 45.8% of failures are serious: 38.5% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 7.3% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £108.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 86.5% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view |
| 2014 | 82.1% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2013 | 78.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2012 | 76.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
16 earlier years
| 2011 | 77.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2010 | 77.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2009 | 72.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2008 | 70.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2007 | 67.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2006 | 65.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2005 | 66.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 65.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2003 | 66.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2002 | 64.7% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2001 | 67.3% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2000 | 62.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated |
| 1999 | 68.3% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1998 | 69.3% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated |
| 1997 | 66.7% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated |
| 1996 | 65% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
Typical mileage
Half of all Accords tested had between 96,766 and 168,863 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 137,690 median miles, the Accord has 0.022 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Honda models
| Honda Civic | 74.1% |
| Honda Jazz | 77.5% |
| Honda CR-V | 79.3% |
| Honda HR-V | 88.6% |
| Honda Ww | 83.2% |
Common questions
What is the Honda Accord MOT pass rate?
The Honda Accord has a 69.6% MOT pass rate based on 44,997 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Honda Accord?
The most common MOT failure on the Honda Accord is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 3,649 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
What is the typical mileage of a Honda Accord at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Honda Accord is 137,690 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 96,766 and 168,863 miles.
Buying a used Accord?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 69.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £108 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.