Used car guide

2014 Honda Civic: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2014 Honda Civics, from 14,323 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

14,323MOT tests in 2025
76%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%)
7,500typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for position lamp

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2014 Honda Civics than on all cars registered in 2014.

  • Position lamp1.9× usual
    Honda Civic
    5.3% All 2014 cars
    2.8%
    Rough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Ball joint dust cover1.6× usual
    Honda Civic
    3.5% All 2014 cars
    2.2%
    Rough price £80–£200

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Coil springs: 1% here, against 6.8% of all 2014 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 3.8% here, against 8.2% of all 2014 cars.

By area

The share of 2014 Honda Civic MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    31% 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.

  • Brakes
    23% 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
    18% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    17% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    3% 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.

Looking at a Honda Civic?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
201912,546Tyres 27%
201813,500Tyres 26%
201714,518Tyres 28%
201616,113Tyres 29%
201514,922Tyres 30%
201315,114Tyres 31%
201212,860Tyres 31%
201110,849Suspension 42%
201015,913Suspension 49%
200917,536Suspension 52%
200818,388Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2014 Honda Civics registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score