MPV and people carrier · 1996–2021 cars

Honda Stepwagon reliability

The Honda Stepwagon fails 23% of first MOT tests, 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 10,321 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 80/100#5 of 49 mpv and people carriers

Checking a Honda Stepwagon before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 23%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 33% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 10,321; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 15,000; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Honda Stepwagon ages

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

Honda StepwagonAll cars

Honda Stepwagon first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Honda Stepwagon	All cars
3	28.4%	12.3%
4	30.2%	14.1%
5	33.2%	16.4%
6	31.3%	19.1%
7	38.3%	22.1%
8	36%	25.5%
9	33.8%	28.8%
10	8.3%	31.8%
11	10.7%	34.6%
12	19.6%	37.3%
13	20%	39.5%
14	24.7%	41.1%
15	22.2%	42.3%
16	31.7%	42.9%
17	35%	43.4%
18	31.3%	43.5%
19	37.2%	43.4%
20	29.9%	42.8%

By year

The best and worst Honda Stepwagon years

2010 cars come out best and 2011 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Honda Stepwagon MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2019	316	31.3%	52% more fails	84,626
2018	311	32.2%	45% more fails	90,135
2017	375	32.8%	34% more fails	100,522
2016	384	35.4%	30% more fails	110,391
2015	347	38.9%	32% more fails	109,747
2014	369	16.5%	46% fewer fails	76,952
2013	977	9.3%	71% fewer fails	66,051
2012	968	12.1%	64% fewer fails	69,691
2011 Stepwagon	1,110	19.5%	46% fewer fails	76,484
2010 Stepwagon	1,635	20.1%	46% fewer fails	75,354
2009	806	22.7%	42% fewer fails	78,742
2008	787	24.5%	37% fewer fails	76,740
2007	353	35.1%	15% fewer fails	86,208
2006	201	34.8%	18% fewer fails	92,816
2005	336	33%	23% fewer fails	90,801
2004	354	31.9%	23% fewer fails	87,853
2003	205	24.9%	38% fewer fails	81,063

Common problems

What fails most on a Honda Stepwagon

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

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics14.8%1% below avg
Suspension6.7%44% below avg
Brakes3.9%53% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.9%30% below avg
Tyres2.9%56% below avg
Steering2%17% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.9%54% below avg
Body, chassis and structure1.7%63% below avg
Seat belts and airbags0.7%47% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 3.16% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Rear fog lamp not working 2.07% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.68% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.63% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
5
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.5% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
6
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed 1.47% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
7
Rear fog lamp not steady red 1.45% of tests
A rear fog lamp that is not steady red can confuse following drivers, so the bulb or wiring needs checking.
8
Stop lamp not working 1.32% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.

Most common advisories

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

Tyre worn close to legal limit7.94%
Brake pads wearing thin6.98%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear4.48%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking4.3%
Brake disc pitted or scored2.46%
Engine oil leak, not excessive2.43%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Honda Stepwagon

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
Rear fog lamp not working
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
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.
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 Stepwagon covers about 15,000 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

Petrol99.2%
Hybrid0.5%
LPG0.3%
Diesel0.1%

Most common colours

Black, White, Silver, Grey, Blue

Average engine size: 2.0 litres.

Compare

How the Honda Stepwagon compares with its rivals

Honda Stepwagon against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Toyota Vellfire	11%	66% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Honda Stepwagon	23%	33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Nissan Serena	21.3%	33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Chrysler PT Cruiser	46.1%	13% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën Berlingo Multispace	25%	54% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot Rifter	18.9%	56% more MOT fails than the average car its age
SsangYong Rodius	38.5%	65% 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 Stepwagon questions, answered

Is the Honda Stepwagon reliable?

On MOT results, the Honda Stepwagon is better than average: it fails 23% of first MOT tests, 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 5 of 49 mpv and people carrier models in our index.

What fails most on a Honda Stepwagon MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Honda Stepwagon are position lamp not working (3.16% of tests), rear fog lamp not working (2.07% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (1.68% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 14.8% of its tests.

Which Honda Stepwagon year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2010 cars do best (46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2011 cars do worst (46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Honda Stepwagon do a year?

A typical Honda Stepwagon covers about 15,000 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 Stepwagon 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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