Honda Accord Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Honda Accord fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 50,094 MOT tests across 27 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Petrol, Diesel
75%
Honda Accord pass rate
84%
Honda average
82%
All-model average
The Honda Accord has an average MOT pass rate of 75%, which is 9 points below the Honda average and 7 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Honda Accords pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 9 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
Check Your Honda Accord's MOT History
Enter your reg plate to see the specific issues found on your car, plus a health score and running cost estimate.
What the Honda Accord Fails Its MOT On
Of the 8,866 MOT tests on the Honda Accord that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
55%Cars and vans the same age: 48% · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
36%Cars and vans the same age: 39% · Typical repair £150-£600
Brakes
28%Cars and vans the same age: 28% · Typical repair £80-£450
Tyres
18%Cars and vans the same age: 16% · Typical repair £50-£300
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
16%Cars and vans the same age: 16% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Position lamp: not working (19% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect (14% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (10% of failed tests, suspension)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
Buying a Honda Accord? Check it first
See that car's own MOT history and mileage free, then check it for outstanding finance, an insurance write-off and a stolen record before you pay.
History check £4.99, one-off. No subscription.
Honda Accord Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Accord year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Honda Accord Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Petrol | 2.0L | 88% | 12% | - |
| 2015 | Petrol | 2.0L | 89% | 11% | - |
| 2014 | Petrol | 2.4L | 85% | 15% | - |
| 2013 | Petrol | 2.0L | 81% | 18% | - |
| 2012 | Petrol | 2.0L | 81% | 18% | 79% (+2) |
| 2011 | Petrol | 2.1L | 82% | 18% | 77% (+5) |
| 2010 | Petrol | 2.0L | 81% | 18% | 75% (+6) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 2.0L | 78% | 21% | 75% (+3) |
| 2008 | Petrol | 2.0L | 77% | 23% | 74% (+3) |
| 2007 | Diesel | 2.2L | 74% | 25% | 73% (+1) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 2.0L | 72% | 27% | 73% (-1) |
| 2005 | Diesel | 2.2L | 74% | 25% | 73% (+1) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 2.0L | 72% | 27% | 72% (0) |
| 2003 | Petrol | 1.9L | 72% | 27% | 72% (0) |
| 2002 | Petrol | 1.9L | 68% | 30% | 73% (-5) |
| 2001 | Petrol | 1.9L | 69% | 29% | 73% (-4) |
| 2000 | Petrol | 1.9L | 67% | 31% | 74% (-7) |
| 1999 | Petrol | 2.0L | 71% | 27% | 75% (-4) |
| 1998 | Petrol | 2.2L | 72% | 25% | - |
| 1997 | Petrol | 2.2L | 68% | 29% | - |
| 1996 | Petrol | 1.8L | 67% | 31% | - |
| 1995 | Petrol | 2.0L | 82% | 18% | - |
| 1994 | Petrol | 2.2L | 72% | 25% | - |
| 1993 | Petrol | 2.0L | 67% | 25% | - |
| 1992 | Petrol | 2.0L | 80% | 17% | - |
| 1991 | Petrol | 2.2L | 74% | 26% | - |
| 1990 | Petrol | 2.0L | 80% | 20% | - |
Honda Accord Running Costs
Want to know the full annual running costs for the Honda Accord? Including fuel, road tax, the MOT and predicted repairs based on MOT pass rates, plus an estimated insurance group.
View Honda Accord Running CostsCar history check for £4.99
Finance, stolen and write-off checks
Outstanding finance with the lender's details, stolen, write-off and keeper changes. One payment, no subscription.
Comparing checks first? See the cheapest car check in the UK and the best car check providers compared.
Honda Accord FAQ
What are the most common Honda Accord problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Honda Accord that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (55% of the 8,866 failed tests), suspension (36%) and brakes (28%). The single most common fault was "Position lamp: not working" (19%). Across 50,094 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 75% ended in a pass.
Is the Honda Accord reliable?
The Honda Accord has an average MOT pass rate of 75%, from 50,094 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 1 point of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Honda Accord years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2000 (67% of 1,358 tests passed, against 74% for all 2000 cars), the 2002 (68% of 1,035 tests passed, against 73% for all 2002 cars) and the 1999 (71% of 1,533 tests passed, against 75% for all 1999 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. The years that passed most often for their age were the 2010 (81% of 2,197 tests passed, against 75% for all 2010 cars), the 2011 (82% of 2,295 tests passed, against 77% for all 2011 cars) and the 2009 (78% of 5,596 tests passed, against 75% for all 2009 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Honda Accord faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Honda Accord typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
Check a Specific Honda Accord
Enter any reg plate to see the exact MOT history, defects found, health score, and running cost estimate for that specific car.
Other Honda Models
Common problems pages for other Honda models