Used car guide

2018 Honda Civic: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Honda Civics, from 13,500 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

13,500MOT tests in 2025
85%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
7,300typical miles a year
1.5×the usual rate for washers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Honda Civics than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Washers1.5× usual
    Honda Civic
    2.3% All 2018 cars
    1.5%
    Rough price £15–£60

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

By area

The share of 2018 Honda Civic MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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.

  • Brakes
    18% 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    6% 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
    5% 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.

  • 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%
201714,518Tyres 28%
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 2018 Honda Civics registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score