Honda Civic (2002)
2002 Honda Civic
CarHunch analysed 35,573 real MOT records for the 2002 Honda Civic. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2002 Honda Civic falls noticeably short of the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of 74.1% against 80%, and a concerning 32.7% of vehicles having recorded dangerous defects at some point. This suggests higher-than-typical reliability issues, particularly for safety-critical components, making pre-purchase inspection essential.
At nearly 79,000 miles on average, these cars have seen typical use for their age, yet they're accumulating 4.87 failures and 22.3 advisories per vehicle—a heavy maintenance burden. Before buying, have a trusted mechanic examine the brakes, suspension, and emissions systems specifically, as these are clearly where this generation struggles most.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 1.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2002 Honda Civic
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 32.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Honda Civic
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (97%) | 34,546 | 74.1% | 4.89 |
| Diesel (3%) | 945 | 72.3% | 4.64 |
| Other (0%) | 69 | 77.2% | 1.09 |
| LPG (0%) | 12 | 79% | 3.58 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 72.7% | 3 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2002 Honda Civic vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2002 Honda Civic vehicles fall between 59,869 and 94,193 miles.
2002 Honda Civic — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 5,330 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (18% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2002 Honda Civic
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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82%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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80.8%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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54%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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50.6%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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43.3%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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40.9%
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
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40.1%
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
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25.2%
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Honda Civic?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.