Used car guide

1997 Honda Accord: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Honda Accord first registered in 1997: we looked at the 228 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 228 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

228MOTs of 1997 cars, done in 2023–2025
56%pass first time (all 1997 cars: 65%)
3,600typical miles a year
5.9×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1997 Honda Accord?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1997 Honda Accord than on all cars registered in 1997.

  • Ball joint dust cover5.9× usual
    Honda Accord
    18.9% All 1997 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 1% of all 1997 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3.8× usual
    Honda Accord
    17.5% All 1997 cars
    4.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.6%, against 1.9% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

Common 1997 Honda Accord MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1997 Honda Accord MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    39% 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
    35% 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 electrics
    30% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    28% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    26% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    19% 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1997 Honda Accord

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 5.9× as often on the 1997 Honda Accord as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.8× as often on the 1997 Honda Accord as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Honda Accord?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Honda Accord compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2015488Tyres 27%
20141,263Tyres 28%
20131,463Tyres 31%
20123,468Tyres 29%
20113,757Tyres 31%
20103,745Suspension 33%
20099,051Suspension 36%
20088,565Suspension 41%
20079,350Suspension 48%
20068,451Suspension 48%
20058,708Suspension 52%
20047,445Suspension 53%
20034,742Suspension 50%
20021,738Suspension 45%
20011,688Suspension 47%
20002,233Suspension 45%
19991,404Suspension 42%
1998521Suspension 42%
1996170Suspension 46%
1995134Suspension 40%
1994–Too few tests
1993–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests
1991–Too few tests
1990–Too few tests
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1980–Too few tests
1979–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Honda Accord cars first registered in 1997. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score