Used car guide

2000 Honda Civic: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2000 Honda Civics, from 1,474 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,474MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2000 cars: 63%)
3,700typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2000 Honda Civics than on all cars registered in 2000.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.5× usual
    Honda Civic
    16.2% All 2000 cars
    6.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.2% of all 2000 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) joints1.9× usual
    Honda Civic
    10.3% All 2000 cars
    5.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 2.3% of all 2000 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.

  • Shock absorbers1.8× usual
    Honda Civic
    10.8% All 2000 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 1.4% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Steering rack2.5× usual
    Honda Civic
    5.4% All 2000 cars
    2.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1.3% of all 2000 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.

  • Suspension arm1.8× usual
    Honda Civic
    5.9% All 2000 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.2% of all 2000 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.

Better than most

Flexible brake hoses: 1.7% here, against 6.1% of all 2000 cars.

By area

The share of 2000 Honda Civic MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    46% 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.

  • Brakes
    34% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    31% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    27% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    15% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    15% 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.

Looking at a Honda Civic?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
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%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2000 Honda Civics registered in 2000. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score