2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 Honda CR-V MOT pass rate and common faults

4,332 MOT tests in 2024. 49.2% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

86Well below average
Passed first time49.2%
Failed or needed repairs50.8%
Typical mileage at test135,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 4,332 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction7.0%
  2. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect6.6%
  3. Position lamp: not working6.5%
  4. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength6.1%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.9%
  6. Stop lamp: not working4.8%
  7. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick4.6%
    263 marked dangerous
  8. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn3.6%
  9. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.3%
  10. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases3.2%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics41.1%
  2. Suspension32.2%
  3. Brakes20.4%
  4. Emissions & leaks16.9%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)11.5%
  6. Body & chassis9.4%
  7. Tyres6.7%
  8. Steering4.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn21.8%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.4%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded14.2%
  4. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn11.6%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick11.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2003 Honda CR-V?

In 2024, 49.2% of 2003 Honda CR-V cars passed their MOT first time, across 4,332 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 Honda CR-V?

The most common failure reasons were malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect; position lamp: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2003 Honda CR-V reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 86, which is well below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).