Used car guide

2017 Honda Civic: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2017 Honda Civics, from 14,518 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

14,518MOT tests in 2025
83%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)
6,900typical miles a year
28%had tyres flagged

What gets flagged at MOT

The share of 2017 Honda Civic MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    28% 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
    19% 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
    8% 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
    7% 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.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Honda Civic?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
201912,546Tyres 27%
201813,500Tyres 26%
201616,113Tyres 29%
201514,922Tyres 30%
201414,323Tyres 31%
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 2017 Honda Civics registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score