Used car guide

2004 Honda Civic: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Honda Civic first registered in 2004: we looked at the 32,106 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

32,106MOTs of 2004 cars, done in 2023–2025
56%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 57%)
5,400typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for headlights

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2004 Honda Civic?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2004 Honda Civic than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Headlights1.7× usual
    Honda Civic
    22.3% All 2004 cars
    13.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.5%, against 4.9% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

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

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2× usual
    Honda Civic
    18.4% All 2004 cars
    9.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 2.1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.3× usual
    Honda Civic
    10.7% All 2004 cars
    4.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 1.8% of all 2004 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 performance1.7× usual
    Honda Civic
    12.6% All 2004 cars
    7.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 3% of all 2004 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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints2.3× usual
    Honda Civic
    9.2% All 2004 cars
    4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.5% of all 2004 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.

Better than most

Drive shaft (CV) joints: 3.2% here, against 6.7% of all 2004 cars. Flexible brake hoses: 2.4% here, against 5.6% of all 2004 cars.

Common 2004 Honda Civic MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2004 Honda Civic MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    52% 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
    41% 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
    40% 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
    31% 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    13% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2004 Honda Civic

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

  1. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2004 Honda Civic as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2004 Honda Civic as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2004 Honda Civic as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Honda Civic?

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 Civic compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023107Tyres 9%
20221,426Tyres 18%
20219,725Tyres 22%
202016,728Tyres 23%
201937,657Tyres 26%
201840,251Tyres 27%
201743,390Tyres 28%
201648,162Tyres 29%
201544,654Tyres 29%
201442,908Tyres 30%
201345,599Tyres 30%
201239,127Tyres 30%
201133,331Suspension 37%
201050,086Suspension 44%
200957,140Suspension 48%
200863,059Suspension 50%
200768,363Suspension 53%
200643,999Suspension 55%
200538,461Suspension 50%
200323,178Suspension 54%
200220,098Suspension 53%
200113,822Suspension 55%
20005,245Suspension 47%
19994,379Suspension 45%
19983,251Suspension 46%
19972,753Suspension 46%
19961,821Suspension 45%
19951,143Suspension 38%
1994735Suspension 33%
1993602Suspension 32%
1992569Suspension 33%
1991687Suspension 32%
1990364Suspension 30%
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
1979–Too few tests
1978–Too few tests
1977–Too few tests
1976–Too few tests
1975–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 Civic cars first registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score