Honda
3,866 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where SHs pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 5.1 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
82.6%
Pass-after-fix
7.0%
Fail
10.1%
Avg miles
42,310
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Trim variants
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 3,866 tests
Pass rate climbs 1.5 points across the cohorts — newer SH examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
82.3%
Fail
10.1%
PRS
7.3%
Avg mileage at test
43,977 mi
Pass
83.8%
Fail
9.8%
PRS
5.6%
Avg mileage at test
34,886 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 3,188 MOT tests, the Sh returns 83.7% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is brake pads worn below 1.0 mm. Tyre tread under the limit and a stop-lamp out round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 38,161, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
10–26
out of 50
Filter failures:
Hide categories
Tick a category to hide it from rankings sitewide. Saved in this browser only.
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
65 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
63 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
54 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
43 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
A stop lamp(s) does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls or remains on when the brakes are released
37 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
A stop lamp(s) remains on when the brakes are released
31 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
A lamp missing or inoperative
28 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
26 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Steering head bearings excessively stiff, notchy, or with excessive wear or play
24 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
24 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 5 failures
£164–£360
If every one of this SH's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 1.5-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy Honda SH makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
83.8%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 83.8% — a 1.5-point improvement. Tests in this band average 34,886 miles — roughly 9K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, inoperative in the case of a single… — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. The stricter post-2018 MOT test rules meant manufacturers had to tighten up emissions and electrical checks, but this band still shows far fewer major failures on suspension and bodywork than the older fleet.
Band to be cautious about
82.3%
Pre-2018 registration
On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 82.3% pass rate against a fleet average of 83.8% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: less than 1.0 mm thick, tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and inoperative in the case of a single…. Average mileage on test for this band is 43,977 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (83.8% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (82.3% pass). That's a 1.5-point spread across 3,149 older tests and 717 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
Search Amazon UK
Item 03 · Amazon UK
H7 / W21W bulb pack
A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Draper
Draper Drain Plug Key, 3/8 Square x 3/8 Sq. Dr.
£15.39
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Honda Nighthawk Black Pearlescent Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Honda Milano Red Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Honda Satin Silver Metallic Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own an SH and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
