Used car guide · 2010–2015

Honda CR-Z common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Honda CR-Z, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 11,244 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

11,244MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
3,734on the UK register
2010best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

201520142013201220112010

What usually goes wrong with a Honda CR-Z?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Honda CR-Z in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Honda CR-Z MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Braking performance

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    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.

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 4.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    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.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Track rod ends

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Honda CR-Z MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2010 Honda CR-Z did best (74% passed first time, 14 points above all 2010 cars) and the 2013 did worst (79%, 12 points above all 2013 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201485%70% +15489 (small sample)
201379%67% +12864
201276%64% +121,843
201174%62% +124,216
201074%60% +143,832

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Honda CR-Z

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

  1. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the Honda CR-Z as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 4.9× as often on the Honda CR-Z as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the Honda CR-Z as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Honda CR-Z?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score