Sports car and convertible · 1999–2016 cars

Honda S2000 reliability

The Honda S2000 fails 18.5% of first MOT tests, 51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 17,881 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 96/100#23 of 62 sports car and convertibles

Checking a Honda S2000 before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 18.5%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 51% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 17,881; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: –; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Honda S2000 ages

Each point is the share of Honda S2000s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Honda S2000All cars

Honda S2000 first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Honda S2000	All cars
13	13.9%	39.5%
14	14.7%	41.1%
15	14.3%	42.3%
16	16.3%	42.9%
17	17.3%	43.4%
18	17.3%	43.5%
19	20.6%	43.4%
20	20.4%	42.8%
21	21.7%	41.4%
22	22.8%	40.6%
23	25%	38.9%
24	16.9%	37.1%

By year

The best and worst Honda S2000 years

2009 cars come out best and 2000 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Honda S2000 MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2009 S2000	1,274	10.1%	67% fewer fails	45,824
2008 S2000	1,023	15.2%	55% fewer fails	54,855
2007 S2000	1,696	15.8%	56% fewer fails	63,461
2006 S2000	1,900	17.6%	54% fewer fails	67,654
2005 S2000	2,559	17.8%	55% fewer fails	74,708
2004 S2000	2,383	18.1%	54% fewer fails	75,422
2003 S2000	2,218	20.6%	49% fewer fails	82,975
2002 S2000	2,234	22.5%	45% fewer fails	88,012
2001	795	23.6%	40% fewer fails	92,211
2000 S2000	1,158	22.8%	40% fewer fails	91,655
1999	602	19.1%	47% fewer fails	87,829

Common problems

What fails most on a Honda S2000

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Brakes6%45% below avg
Lights and electrics4.9%72% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4.3%38% below avg
Suspension4.3%69% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.6%38% below avg
Tyres2.1%63% below avg
Body, chassis and structure1.2%84% below avg
Seat belts and airbags0.9%62% below avg
Steering0.8%72% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Service brake excessively binding 1.61% of tests
A brake that drags when released can overheat, wear quickly and waste fuel, so it needs prompt inspection.
2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.38% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
3
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 1.35% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
4
Position lamp not working 1.2% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
5
Lambda reading outside specified limits 0.93% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
6
Carbon monoxide high after fast idle 0.86% of tests
High carbon monoxide can point to engine or catalytic converter faults, so ask for diagnosis before buying.
7
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 0.82% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
8
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 0.81% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Honda S2000's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit8.44%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking4.41%
Brake disc pitted or scored4.12%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy3.89%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear3.19%
Service brake slightly binding3.13%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Honda S2000

1
Service brake excessively binding
A brake that drags when released can overheat, wear quickly and waste fuel, so it needs prompt inspection.
2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
3
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
4
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.
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 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

Petrol100%
LPG0%

Most common colours

Silver, Blue, Grey, Black, Red

Average engine size: 2.0 litres.

Compare

How the Honda S2000 compares with its rivals

Honda S2000 against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Aston Martin DB9	9%	67% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Aston Martin Vantage	6%	65% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Audi R8	7.7%	63% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Honda S2000	18.5%	51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Lotus Elise	14.2%	51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Nissan 350 Z	26.1%	33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
MGF	34.1%	about average for its age

Every sports car and convertible ranked in the sports car and convertible reliability index, or all Honda models.

Questions

Honda S2000 questions, answered

Is the Honda S2000 reliable?

On MOT results, the Honda S2000 is better than average: it fails 18.5% of first MOT tests, 51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 23 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.

What fails most on a Honda S2000 MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Honda S2000 are service brake excessively binding (1.61% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (1.38% of tests), windscreen washer fluid insufficient (1.35% of tests). By area, brakes fails 6% of its tests.

Which Honda S2000 year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2009 cars do best (67% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2000 cars do worst (40% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How do I check a Honda S2000 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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