Used car guide

2013 Honda CR-Z: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2013 Honda CR-Zs, from 291 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 291 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

291MOT tests in 2025
79%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)
6,000typical miles a year
5.5×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2013 Honda CR-Zs than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Ball joint dust cover5.5× usual
    Honda CR-Z
    14.4% All 2013 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 1.1% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

  • Braking performance2.8× usual
    Honda CR-Z
    12.4% All 2013 cars
    4.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 1.6% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

By area

The share of 2013 Honda CR-Z MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    32% 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.

  • Brakes
    29% 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.

  • Tyres
    29% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    12% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    3% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Honda CR-Z?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2014169Brakes 28%
2012616Brakes 34%
20111,422Suspension 38%
20101,259Suspension 36%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2013 Honda CR-Zs registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score