Honda Civic (2005)
2005 Honda Civic
CarHunch analysed 32,387 real MOT records for the 2005 Honda Civic. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2005 Honda Civic passes its MOT first time in 75.6% of cases, sitting 4.4 points below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that reflects age-related wear. More concerning is that 42.5% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above the threshold for serious buyer caution, and diesel versions fare worse with a 73.2% pass rate against petrol's 75.9%.
At a median mileage of 71,881 miles for a 19-year-old car, these Civics are reasonably well-used but not excessively so, yet they're still averaging 4.67 failures and 25.7 advisories per test—telling you that routine wear and corrosion issues are common across the fleet. Before committing to a purchase, get a full independent pre-buy inspection focused on corrosion points, suspension, and brake condition, since the high dangerous-defect rate suggests structural and safety issues crop up regularly.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 2.7 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2005 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.
- ⚠️ 42.5% 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 (91%) | 29,337 | 75.9% | 4.69 |
| Diesel (9%) | 2,877 | 73.2% | 4.59 |
| Other (0%) | 66 | 79.3% | 2.68 |
| Hybrid Electric (Clean) (0%) | 53 | 76.2% | 4.92 |
| Electric (0%) | 44 | 79.8% | 3.14 |
| LPG (0%) | 4 | 74.9% | 4.75 |
| Fuel Cells (0%) | 4 | 79.8% | 3.25 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 1 | 92.9% | 1 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2005 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 2005 Honda Civic vehicles fall between 55,905 and 87,995 miles.
2005 Honda Civic — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 10,470 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (35% 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 — 2005 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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80.2%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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77.2%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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55.3%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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48.8%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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44.7%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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34.4%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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34.1%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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25%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2005. 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.