Honda Fr-V: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Honda Fr-V fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 13 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 7,199 individual Honda Fr-V tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 63.7% first-time pass rate means roughly 36 in every 100 Honda Fr-Vs presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Honda Fr-V tested had covered 126,193 miles and was built around 2007.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Honda Fr-V sits 13 points below the national average, ranked 1,885 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Honda Fr-V rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Honda Fr-Vs at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Honda Fr-V

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, 11% of tests (11.67x the national rate for this defect)
2. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.8% of tests (10.47x the national rate for this defect)
3. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 3.9% of tests (9.49x the national rate for this defect)
4. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 4.4% of tests (4.28x the national rate for this defect)
5. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 7.6% of tests (3.41x the national rate for this defect)
6. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3% of tests (3.01x the national rate for this defect)
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 15% of tests (2.99x the national rate for this defect)
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 6.6% of tests (2.82x the national rate for this defect)
9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 5.1% of tests (2.36x the national rate for this defect)
10. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.8% of tests (2.29x the national rate for this defect)

From 7,190 DVSA-tracked Honda Fr-V tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.52% of these flagged Honda Fr-V defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Honda Fr-V

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Honda Fr-V before it actually fails on it.

1. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 12.2% of tests (10.98x the national rate for this advisory)
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, 12.3% of tests (8.07x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 7.9% of tests (6.33x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 25.2% of tests (5.33x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 9.2% of tests (4.62x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 5.8% of tests (4.57x the national rate for this advisory)
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 48.1% of tests (3.6x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
8. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 17.3% of tests (3.34x the national rate for this advisory)
9. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 7.1% of tests (2.68x the national rate for this advisory)
10. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 6.8% of tests (2.39x the national rate for this advisory), also fails

From 7,190 DVSA-tracked Honda Fr-V tests, 2024.

Honda Fr-V pass rate by model year

From its 2005 to its 2009 model year, the Honda Fr-V's first-time pass rate has risen 8.4 points, from 60.8% to 69.2%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Honda Fr-V year:

• 2005 Honda Fr-V - 60.8% first-time pass, 993 tests
• 2006 Honda Fr-V - 60.3% first-time pass, 1,387 tests
• 2007 Honda Fr-V - 66.3% first-time pass, 1,663 tests
• 2008 Honda Fr-V - 65% first-time pass, 1,653 tests
• 2009 Honda Fr-V - 69.2% first-time pass, 1,182 tests

Honda Fr-V by fuel type

The Honda Fr-V's two most-tested fuel types split by 8.3 points: petrol passes first time 67.6% of the time (4,411 tests) against 59.3% for diesel (2,686 tests).

• Petrol Honda Fr-V - 67.6% first-time pass, 4,411 tests
• Diesel Honda Fr-V - 59.3% first-time pass, 2,686 tests

Other Honda models

• Honda Jazz - 78.7%
• Honda Civic - 73.4%
• Honda Cr-V - 79.3%
• Honda Hr-V - 89.8%
• Honda Accord - 68%
• Honda Jazz Ex I-Mmd Cvt - 95.6%
• Honda Insight - 78.1%
• Honda Jazz Crosstar Ex I-Mmd Cvt - 96.7%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Mitsubishi Delica - 64%
• Toyota Previa - 63.8%
• Nissan Primera - 63.8%
• Dodge Nitro - 63.7%
• Vauxhall Antara - 63.6%
• Fiat Punto - 63.5%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate