Large family car · 1996–2021 cars
Honda Accord reliability
The Honda Accord fails 38.7% of first MOT tests, 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 99,769 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Honda Accord before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 38.7%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 8% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 99,769
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 9,100
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Honda Accord ages
Each point is the share of Honda Accords of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Honda Accord | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 15.9% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 20.8% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 22.8% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 26.2% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 29% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 29.3% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 30.9% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 35.9% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 39.1% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 41.7% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 42.6% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 44.4% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 43.8% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 45.5% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 46.3% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 44.1% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 46.9% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 42.8% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 38.7% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Honda Accord years
2010 cars come out best and 2000 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 559 | 15.7% | 37% fewer fails | 66,218 |
| 2014 Accord | 1,479 | 20.4% | 26% fewer fails | 70,081 |
| 2013 Accord | 1,670 | 24.7% | 21% fewer fails | 84,207 |
| 2012 Accord | 4,130 | 27.8% | 21% fewer fails | 99,389 |
| 2011 Accord | 4,442 | 28.1% | 26% fewer fails | 108,754 |
| 2010 Accord | 4,412 | 28.4% | 29% fewer fails | 117,263 |
| 2009 Accord | 10,920 | 32.7% | 22% fewer fails | 122,767 |
| 2008 Accord | 10,503 | 37.2% | 14% fewer fails | 125,464 |
| 2007 Accord | 12,132 | 41% | 7% fewer fails | 130,511 |
| 2006 Accord | 11,040 | 43.2% | 4% fewer fails | 133,068 |
| 2005 Accord | 11,293 | 43.5% | 4% fewer fails | 128,980 |
| 2004 Accord | 9,603 | 43.7% | 3% fewer fails | 129,892 |
| 2003 Accord | 6,083 | 44.1% | 1% fewer fails | 124,840 |
| 2002 Accord | 2,331 | 48% | 14% more fails | 97,317 |
| 2001 Accord | 2,334 | 46.7% | 13% more fails | 100,738 |
| 2000 Accord | 3,107 | 46.4% | 16% more fails | 100,348 |
| 1999 Accord | 2,406 | 41.5% | 9% more fails | 99,619 |
| 1998 | 836 | 41.9% | 14% more fails | 99,426 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Honda Accord
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics21%3% above avg
- Suspension13.4%21% below avg
- Brakes11.5%9% below avg
- Tyres6.8%8% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors6.1%11% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks5.5%16% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure4.7%42% below avg
- Steering2.6%35% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.4%45% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Position lamp not working 6.26% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 4.73% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 3
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 3.48% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 4
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 3% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 5
Dipped beam headlamp not working 2.88% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
- 6
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.76% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 7
Stop lamp not working 2.75% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 8
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 2.43% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Honda Accord's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit16.01%
- Brake pads wearing thin10.37%
- Brake disc pitted or scored9.62%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear9.56%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking6.8%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive5.37%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Honda Accord
- 1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 3
Suspension ball joint excessively worn
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 4
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Honda Accord covers about 9,100 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol58.3%
- Diesel41.2%
- LPG0.4%
- Hybrid0.1%
- Electric0%
- Other0%
Most common colours
Silver, Blue, Black, Grey, Red
Average engine size: 2.1 litres.
Compare
How the Honda Accord compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Saab 9-3 | 37.3% | 12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Honda Accord | 38.7% | 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai i40 | 26.6% | 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Peugeot 508 | 28.2% | 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Tesla Model 3 | 14.7% | about average for its age |
| Vauxhall Vectra | 45.9% | 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën C5 | 28.5% | 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every large family car ranked in the large family car reliability index, or all Honda models.
Questions
Honda Accord questions, answered
Is the Honda Accord reliable?
On MOT results, the Honda Accord is about average: it fails 38.7% of first MOT tests, 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 14 of 29 large family car models in our index.
What fails most on a Honda Accord MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Honda Accord are position lamp not working (6.26% of tests), headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect (4.73% of tests), suspension ball joint excessively worn (3.48% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 21% of its tests.
Which Honda Accord year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2010 cars do best (29% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2000 cars do worst (16% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Honda Accord do a year?
A typical Honda Accord covers about 9,100 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Honda Accord before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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