Know Your MOT
12.0%fail rate

Honda Sl common MOT failures and failure rate

What a Honda Sl fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.

Based on 551 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 12.0% of MOT tests recorded on the Honda Sl in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is other, which makes up 25.8% of the Honda Sl's failures, followed by other, brakes, lamps & electrical, tyres. Each item below links to the part that resolves it. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying, and have safety-critical work done by a competent mechanic.

What it fails on, and why

Other25.8% of failures

This covers a range of smaller items, from a non-working horn to a warning light left on.

Brakes24.2% of failures

Brake failures cover worn pads and discs, an imbalance between wheels, corroded or scored discs, or a binding caliper. Braking efficiency is measured on a rolling road, so a spongy or pulling brake shows up as a low reading.

Lamps & electrical18.2% of failures

Lighting is the single most common MOT failure and the cheapest to put right. A blown headlight, brake-light or number-plate bulb, a cracked lens, or a headlamp beam that points too high or low will all fail. Most are a two-minute bulb swap.

Tyres10.6% of failures

Tyres fail for tread below the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters, uneven or exposed-cord wear, or sidewall damage. The tester inspects all four; a single illegal tyre is a fail.

Steering6.1% of failures

Steering faults are typically worn track-rod ends or ball joints, play in the rack, or a split gaiter letting grease out and dirt in. Excessive free play at the wheel fails.

Registration plate6.1% of failures

A missing, damaged, dirty or incorrectly-spaced number plate, or one using the wrong font, will fail. A replacement plate is inexpensive.

The parts that fix each

If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. These are the usual parts; confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the brakes failure: Honda Sl brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Honda Sl brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Honda Sl brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Honda Sl headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Honda Sl headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Honda Sl headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: Honda Sl tyresSearch Amazon for Honda Sl tyresaffiliate searchFind Honda Sl tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the steering failure: Honda Sl steering track rod endsSearch Amazon for Honda Sl steering track rod endsaffiliate searchFind Honda Sl steering track rod ends on eBayaffiliate
For the registration plate failure: Honda Sl number plateSearch Amazon for Honda Sl number plateaffiliate searchFind Honda Sl number plate on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Honda Civic MOT failures26.3% failure rateHonda Jazz MOT failures18.9% failure rateHonda Cr-V MOT failures21.4% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Sources: DVSA MOT History API: MOT test results and defect data ยท DVSA MOT testing data for Great Britain