Used car guide

2020 Honda HR-V: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Honda HR-V first registered in 2020: we looked at the 3,705 MOTs these cars had during 2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,705MOTs of 2020 cars, done in 2025
91%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%)
5,900typical miles a year
23%had tyres flagged

Common 2020 Honda HR-V MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2020 Honda HR-V MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    23% 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.

  • Brakes
    12% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    5% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Suspension
    2% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    2% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

Known faults on the 2020 Honda HR-V

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).

Source: What Car?: used Honda HR-V (2015-2022) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2020 Honda HR-V

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

  1. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Honda HR-V?

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 HR-V compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023366Tyres 15%
20226,322Tyres 21%
2021442Tyres 24%
20194,855Tyres 24%
20186,076Tyres 25%
20175,834Tyres 25%
20166,849Tyres 27%
20152,770Tyres 27%
2006–Too few tests
2005129Suspension 51%
2004195Suspension 47%
2003165Suspension 47%
2002347Suspension 49%
2001299Suspension 49%
2000237Suspension 44%
1999125Suspension 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, counting the MOTs of Honda HR-V cars first registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score