Petrol Honda Civic: MOT pass rate

73.8% of petrol Honda Civics pass the MOT first time, measured across 206,784 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 88,452.

Petrol against the other Honda Civic versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the Honda Civic specifically, electric is the strongest at 78.4%, and this petrol version sits 0.1 points below the 73.9% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average petrol Honda Civic had covered 88,452 miles at test, against 109,653 for the diesel and 115,993 for the hybrid and 119,937 for the electric. That is above average, the point where suspension bushes, drop links and exhaust corrosion start showing up as advisories before they become failures.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Honda Civic page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a petrol Honda Civic

1. 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, 2.8% of tests (2.93x the national rate for this defect)
2. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.5% of tests (2.64x the national rate for this defect)
3. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 6% of tests (2.55x the national rate for this defect)
4. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.6% of tests (2.48x the national rate for this defect)
5. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3% of tests (2.18x the national rate for this defect)
6. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4.5% of tests (2.04x the national rate for this defect)
7. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.6% of tests (1.95x the national rate for this defect)
8. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 1.7% of tests (1.4x the national rate for this defect)
9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 2.9% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this defect)
10. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 1.7% of tests (1.32x the national rate for this defect)

From 208,192 DVSA-tracked petrol Honda Civic tests, 2024, split out from the Honda Civic's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.33% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a petrol Honda Civic

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 5.1% of tests (4.63x the national rate for this defect)
2. 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, 4.1% of tests (2.67x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 5.6% of tests (2.12x the national rate for this defect)
4. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 6.9% of tests (1.77x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 8.1% of tests (1.71x the national rate for this defect)
6. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.4% of tests (1.7x the national rate for this defect)
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 4.2% of tests (1.46x the national rate for this defect)
8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 11.9% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this defect), also fails
9. A tyre seriously damaged, 18.3% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 15.5% of tests (1.16x the national rate for this defect)

From 208,192 DVSA-tracked petrol Honda Civic tests, 2024.

Other Honda Civic fuel types

• Diesel Honda Civic - 74.3%
• Hybrid Honda Civic - 78%
• Electric Honda Civic - 78.4%

All Honda Civic MOT data · Every model