2021 Honda HR-V: common problems and what to check
What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Honda HR-Vs, from 442 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
Small sample: only 442 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.
What gets flagged at MOT
The share of 2021 Honda HR-V MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Tyres24% 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.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors7% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
- Seats and seatbelts3% of testsRough price £80–£250
At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.
- Brakes2% 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 electrics2% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Suspension1% 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.
Known faults
What Car? reports relatively few big issues and no common failure points, and it scored 100% in its reliability survey (joint first of 20 small SUVs).
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Other years
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 366 | Tyres 15% |
| 2022 | 6,322 | Tyres 21% |
| 2020 | 3,705 | Tyres 23% |
| 2019 | 4,855 | Tyres 24% |
| 2018 | 6,076 | Tyres 25% |
| 2017 | 5,834 | Tyres 25% |
| 2016 | 6,849 | Tyres 27% |
| 2015 | 2,770 | Tyres 27% |
| 2005 | 129 | Suspension 51% |
| 2004 | 195 | Suspension 47% |
| 2003 | 165 | Lights and electrics 47% |
| 2002 | 347 | Suspension 49% |
| 2001 | 299 | Suspension 49% |
| 2000 | 237 | Suspension 44% |
| 1999 | 125 | Suspension 50% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 Honda HR-Vs registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score