Used car guide

1996 Honda Civic: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1996 Honda Civics, from 520 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

520MOT tests in 2025
64%pass first time (all 1996 cars: 67%)
3,300typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1996 Honda Civics than on all cars registered in 1996.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints3.3× usual
    Honda Civic
    14.2% All 1996 cars
    4.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.8% of all 1996 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3.2× usual
    Honda Civic
    13.3% All 1996 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 1.6% of all 1996 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Steering rack5.2× usual
    Honda Civic
    10.4% All 1996 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.9%, against 1.2% of all 1996 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Headlights2.6× usual
    Honda Civic
    10.2% All 1996 cars
    3.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 2.5% of all 1996 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

By area

The share of 1996 Honda Civic MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    42% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    28% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    28% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    26% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    17% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    14% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023110Tyres 10%
20221,408Tyres 18%
20214,879Tyres 24%
20205,557Tyres 25%
201912,616Tyres 27%
201813,501Tyres 26%
201714,519Tyres 28%
201616,113Tyres 29%
201514,922Tyres 30%
201414,323Tyres 31%
201315,114Tyres 31%
201212,861Tyres 31%
201110,851Suspension 42%
201015,916Suspension 49%
200917,540Suspension 52%
200818,395Suspension 53%
200719,084Suspension 56%
200611,633Suspension 59%
200511,046Suspension 52%
20049,115Suspension 53%
20036,408Suspension 56%
20025,574Suspension 54%
20013,779Suspension 55%
20001,474Suspension 46%
19991,205Suspension 44%
1998918Suspension 46%
1997809Suspension 47%
1995332Suspension 37%
1994235Suspension 30%
1993189Suspension 31%
1992192Suspension 32%
1991228Suspension 31%
1990125Suspension 30%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1996 Honda Civics registered in 1996. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score