2003 Honda Jazz: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2003 Honda Jazz?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2003 Honda Jazz than on all cars registered in 2003.

• Suspension arm bushes and joints2.5× usual
  Honda Jazz

  21.5% All 2003 cars

  8.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 1.9% of all 2003 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.

• Headlights2.1× usual
  Honda Jazz

  24.4% All 2003 cars

  11.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.9%, against 4.6% of all 2003 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.

• Front strut mounts and bushes10.2× usual
  Honda Jazz

  9.2% All 2003 cars

  0.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.1% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Rust around suspension or steering mountings1.8× usual
  Honda Jazz

  11% All 2003 cars

  6.2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 3.1% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  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.

• Brake lights1.7× usual
  Honda Jazz

  9.7% All 2003 cars

  5.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 7.7%, against 4.6% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Common 2003 Honda Jazz MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2003 Honda Jazz MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Suspension
  55% 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
  45% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

• Brakes
  42% 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.

• Tyres
  34% 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.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  14% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

• Rust and bodywork
  14% 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.

Known faults on the 2003 Honda Jazz

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Whining manual gearbox

  Manual gearbox

  Worn gearbox bearings cause a whir when accelerating that goes away in neutral with the clutch down. The gearbox has to come out to fix it.

  At the viewing: Accelerate in each gear and listen for a whine, then compare in neutral with the clutch pressed.

  Source: Haynes: Honda Jazz Mk1 common problems (2001-2008)

• CVT automatic slow to change

  CVT automatic

  The CVT automatic can be jerky pulling away and slow to change ratio, often because its fluid wasn’t changed. Honda says every 25,000 miles.

  At the viewing: Pull away gently several times and accelerate steadily. Ask for proof of CVT fluid changes.

  Source: Haynes: Honda Jazz Mk1 common problems (2001-2008)

• Airbag warning light

  All engines

  The airbag control unit can fail and light the airbag warning, even on cars that had airbag recall work.

  At the viewing: Make sure the airbag light goes out after starting, and ask whether recall work was done.

  Source: Haynes: Honda Jazz Mk1 common problems (2001-2008)

• Surging at a steady speed

  All engines

  Surging at a constant throttle usually comes from worn spark plugs (there are eight) or a failing crank sensor.

  At the viewing: Drive at a steady 30–40mph and feel for the car surging.

  Source: Haynes: Honda Jazz Mk1 common problems (2001-2008)

• Door locks that seize

  All engines

  The door locks can seize, so the remote won’t lock or unlock and the key won’t turn.

  At the viewing: Lock and unlock with the remote and with the key in each door.

  Source: Haynes: Honda Jazz Mk1 common problems (2001-2008)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2003 Honda Jazz

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

1. Has the gearbox been noisy, or had any work?
2. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the 2003 Honda Jazz as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2003 Honda Jazz as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the front strut mounts and bushes? (Flagged at MOT 10.2× as often on the 2003 Honda Jazz as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?