Used car guide · 2012–2017

Honda Civic Mk9: best and worst years, and what goes wrong

How every year of the Honda Civic Mk9 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 87,850 MOT tests.

2014best year: 76% pass first time, 7 points above all 2014 cars
2013weakest year: 72% pass first time, 6 points above all 2013 cars
Sidelightsthe weak spot that shows up in 2 different years

Year by year

First-time MOT pass rate for each year of the Honda Civic Mk9, against all cars registered the same year. Older cars fail more, so the comparison with cars the same age is what matters.

50%75%100%2012: 69% pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%) 69% 2012*2013: 72% pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%) 72% 20132014: 76% pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%) 76% 20142015: 79% pass first time (all 2015 cars: 72%) 79% 20152016: 81% pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%) 81% 20162017: 83% pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%) 83% 2017*
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
2012*69%63% +6Track rod ends 1.6× usual12,860
201372%66% +6Brake pads 1.6× usual15,114
201476%69% +7Sidelights 1.9× usual14,323
201579%72% +7Track rod ends 1.7× usual14,922
201681%75% +6Headlights 1.9× usual16,113
2017*83%78% +5Nothing unusual14,518

Weak spots across the Honda Civic Mk9

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.

  • Sidelightsup to 1.9× usual

    Stands out in 2 years: 2014, 2013.

    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.

Known faults

From owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Not every car will have them.

  • Automatic wipers that stop working

    The rain-sensing wipers can stop working properly. Fixes range from a battery reset to a new sensor or a software update.

    Check: Switch the wipers to auto and spray the windscreen.

    Source: Auto Express: used Honda Civic Mk9

  • Uneven panel gaps

    Some owners report uneven gaps between panels, especially around the tailgate. It can also hide a past repair, so it's worth a close look.

    Check: Look along the tailgate and doors for gaps that differ side to side.

    Source: Auto Express: used Honda Civic Mk9

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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