Used car guide · 2006–2012

Honda Civic Mk8: best and worst years, and what goes wrong

How every year of the Honda Civic Mk8 did at its MOT in 2025 compared with other cars the same age, the weak spots that keep coming up, and what to check before you buy one. From 106,250 MOT tests.

2007best year: 54% pass first time, 3 points below all 2007 cars
2006weakest year: 53% pass first time, 4 points below all 2006 cars
Shock absorbersthe weak spot that shows up in 6 different years

Year by year

First-time MOT pass rate for each year of the Honda Civic Mk8, against all cars registered the same year. Older cars fail more, so the comparison with cars the same age is what matters.

40%70%100%2006: 53% pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%) 53% 20062007: 54% pass first time (all 2007 cars: 57%) 54% 20072008: 54% pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%) 54% 20082009: 54% pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%) 54% 20092010: 55% pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%) 55% 20102011: 57% pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%) 57% 20112012: 69% pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%) 69% 2012*
This model, first-time pass rate All cars registered that year · * changeover year: some cars are the previous or next generation
YearPass first timeAll cars that yearStands outMOT tests
200653%57% -4Headlights 1.6× usual11,630
200754%57% -3Headlights 1.7× usual19,074
200854%57% -3Headlights 2.1× usual18,388
200954%58% -4Headlights 2.5× usual17,536
201055%59% -4Headlights 2.8× usual15,913
201157%61% -4Shock absorbers 2.1× usual10,849
2012*69%63% +6Track rod ends 1.6× usual12,860

Weak spots across the Honda Civic Mk8

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year of this generation. Repeat findings like these are much less likely to be chance.

  • Shock absorbersup to 2.4× usual

    Stands out in 6 years: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006.

    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.

  • Headlightsup to 2.8× usual

    Stands out in 5 years: 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

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

  • Track rod endsup to 2.3× usual

    Stands out in 5 years: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

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

  • Brake lightsup to 2.3× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2011, 2010, 2009.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    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 coverup to 2.2× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2008, 2007, 2006.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

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

  • Headlight aimup to 1.8× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2009, 2008, 2007.

    Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting each car's main test of the year (not retests). A weak spot needs at least 30 cars flagged and must stay 1.5× the usual rate even at the cautious end of a 95% confidence range. Generation years are approximate: cars registered in a changeover year (*) can be either generation. How we score

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