Used car guide · 2004–2010

Honda FR-V common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Honda FR-V, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 5,826 MOTs done during 2025), and what to check before you buy one.

5,826MOTs done in 2025, all years of this model
5,999on the UK register
2009best 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).

2010200920082007200620052004

What usually goes wrong with a Honda FR-V?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Honda FR-V 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 FR-V 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 2025.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 3.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    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 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    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.

  • Headlights

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

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

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    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.

  • Brake pads

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005 and 2006.

    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.

Honda FR-V MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2009 Honda FR-V did best (60% passed first time, 2 points above all 2009 cars) and the 2005 did worst (50%, 8 points below all 2005 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200960%58% +21,111
200853%57% -41,482
200755%57% -21,413
200652%57% -51,046
200550%58% -8774

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Honda FR-V

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

  1. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.7× as often on the Honda FR-V as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the Honda FR-V as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the Honda FR-V as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Honda FR-V?

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 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