Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Honda Cr Z?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2012 Honda Cr Z?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2012 Honda Cr Z?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2012 Honda Cr Z vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

36% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2012 Honda Cr Z reliable?

Based on MOT data from 674 vehicles, the 2012 Honda Cr Z has a first-time MOT pass rate of 86.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Honda Cr Z?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Honda Cr Z are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (53.4% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (39.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (37.7% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2012 Honda Cr Z?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Honda Cr Z (2012)

674 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86.3% first-time pass rate

2012 Honda Cr Z

CarHunch analysed 674 real MOT records for the 2012 Honda Cr Z. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2012 CR-Z passes its MOT first time at 86.3%, a solid 6.3 percentage points above the UK average, which suggests these cars are generally well-maintained—though the 35.8% that have ever recorded a dangerous defect is a significant concern for buyers, well above typical thresholds. Hybrid and petrol variants perform almost identically (86.5% and 86.0% respectively), so fuel type isn't a differentiator here.

At 57,500 miles average, these 12-year-olds show moderate mileage for their age, but the 12.6 average advisories per test reveal chronic minor wear issues—likely suspension, trim, and lighting niggles rather than serious faults. Before purchase, get a full pre-buy inspection with special attention to the hybrid system and suspension components, as the high dangerous-defect rate suggests these areas need scrutiny beyond a standard MOT check.

The 2012 Honda Cr Z has a decent first-time pass rate (86.3%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

86.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

35.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.83

Over 12.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

55k

Middle half: 38k–71k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 86.3% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 12.6 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 674 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 674 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 53.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 39.4%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 21.5%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 674 Honda Cr Z cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Honda Cr Z

Based on MOT data from 674 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 35.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (46%)	311	86.5%	1.76
Petrol (25%)	167	86%	1.9
Other (16%)	106	86.2%	1.9
Electric (13%)	89	86.2%	1.87

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,244 Honda Cr Z vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 37.7%

1,598

Black 24%

1,019

Silver 19.9%

844

Blue 10.7%

456

Red 5.5%

232

Purple 1.4%

Grey 0.5%

Yellow 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Honda Cr Z vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

54,757

typical

37,899

low mileage

71,203

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Honda Cr Z vehicles fall between 37,899 and 71,203 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 37,899 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 37,899–71,203 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Honda Cr Zs sit.

⚠ Over 96,124 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Honda Cr Z — Still on the Road

Almost all 2012 Honda Cr Zs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 587 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 90% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.83

Avg failures per vehicle

12.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Cr Z: All Cr Z years → Which year to buy? →

2010 2011 2013 2014

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Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Honda Cr Z stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing