MPV and people carrier · 2004–2019 cars
Honda FR-V reliability
The Honda FR-V fails 44.1% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage, based on 27,855 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Honda FR-V before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 44.1%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 0% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 27,855
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 8,300
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Honda FR-V ages
Each point is the share of Honda FR-Vs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Honda FR-V | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 35.6% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 37.4% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 40.1% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 43.6% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 45.4% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 47.2% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 50.4% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 50.3% | 43.4% |
By year
The best and worst Honda FR-V years
2009 cars come out best and 2005 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 260 | 36.5% | 9% fewer fails | 104,254 |
| 2009 FR-V | 4,241 | 38% | 9% fewer fails | 110,295 |
| 2008 FR-V | 6,117 | 41.9% | 4% fewer fails | 119,642 |
| 2007 FR-V | 6,284 | 42.5% | 4% fewer fails | 120,709 |
| 2006 FR-V | 5,831 | 48.4% | 6% more fails | 131,457 |
| 2005 FR-V | 4,363 | 49% | 7% more fails | 129,049 |
| 2004 | 616 | 50.6% | 10% more fails | 129,173 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Honda FR-V
Its weak spot is tyres: 15% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics21.2%2% below avg
- Suspension18.8%4% above avg
- Brakes11.4%12% below avg
- Tyres9.1%15% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure7.6%10% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors7.1%1% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks6.2%10% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags2.9%14% above avg
- Steering1.6%60% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Position lamp not working 7.91% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 5.42% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 3
Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint worn 4.16% of tests
A worn linkage ball joint can rattle, affect handling and eventually fail, so it should be replaced.
- 4
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 3.92% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 5
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 3.22% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 6
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 3.22% 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 3.1% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 8
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 2.7% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Honda FR-V's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit20.07%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion12.03%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear12.03%
- Brake pads wearing thin10.63%
- Linkage ball joint slight play9.34%
- Brake disc pitted or scored8.61%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Honda FR-V
- 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
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 3
Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint worn
A worn linkage ball joint can rattle, affect handling and eventually fail, so it should be replaced.
- 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 FR-V covers about 8,300 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
- Petrol60.4%
- Diesel39.5%
- LPG0.1%
- Electric0%
- Other0%
Most common colours
Grey, Black, Silver, Blue, Red
Average engine size: 2.0 litres.
Compare
How the Honda FR-V compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Alphard | 23.2% | 32% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz Viano | 33.6% | 14% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Honda FR-V | 44.1% | about average for its age |
| Kia Sedona | 45.5% | 12% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mazda Bongo | 45.3% | 16% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën C4 Picasso | 23.9% | 25% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai i800 | 37% | 46% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every mpv and people carrier ranked in the mpv and people carrier reliability index, or all Honda models.
Questions
Honda FR-V questions, answered
Is the Honda FR-V reliable?
On MOT results, the Honda FR-V is about average: it fails 44.1% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage. It ranks 17 of 49 mpv and people carrier models in our index.
What fails most on a Honda FR-V MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Honda FR-V are position lamp not working (7.91% of tests), suspension mounting area seriously corroded (5.42% of tests), anti-roll bar linkage ball joint worn (4.16% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 21.2% of its tests.
Which Honda FR-V year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2009 cars do best (9% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2005 cars do worst (7% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Honda FR-V do a year?
A typical Honda FR-V covers about 8,300 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 FR-V 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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