Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 Honda Hr V?

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 2002 Honda Hr V?

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 2002 Honda Hr V?

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 2002 Honda Hr V vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

25% 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 2002 Honda Hr V reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,616 vehicles, the 2002 Honda Hr V has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Honda Hr V?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Honda Hr V are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (71.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (70.6% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (47% 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 2002 Honda Hr V?

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 Hr V (2002)

2,616 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.7% first-time pass rate

2002 Honda Hr V

CarHunch analysed 2,616 real MOT records for the 2002 Honda Hr V. 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 2002 Honda HR-V falls slightly short of the UK average with a 77.1% first-time pass rate, and a quarter of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a notable concern for a 22-year-old model. That said, the HR-V's median mileage of around 72,000 is reasonable for its age, suggesting survivors in this cohort have been relatively well-maintained.

The average car racks up 3.84 failures and 18.2 advisories per test, which is typical wear-and-tear territory for a vehicle this old rather than a sign of fundamental unreliability. Before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks for corrosion, suspension wear, and any history of previous dangerous defects—these older Hondas need close scrutiny rather than trust in brand reputation alone.

The 2002 Honda Hr V has a decent first-time pass rate (77.7%), 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

77.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

25.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.84

Over 15.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

72k

Middle half: 56k–89k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 18.2 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 2,616 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 2,616 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 71.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

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

Brake wear 34.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded

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

Other issues 28.4%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Oil leak · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · …

Suspension & steering 23.9%

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint · Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Lighting 22.7%

Offside Stop lamp not working · Nearside Stop lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Wipers & washers 19.4%

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,616 Honda Hr V cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Honda Hr V

Based on MOT data from 2,616 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 25.3% 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
Petrol (99%)	2,600	77.8%	3.85

Colour Breakdown

Based on 47,709 Honda Hr V vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 26.1%

12,431

Black 20.8%

9,905

Silver 18.4%

8,778

White 11%

5,227

Grey 10%

4,794

Red 6.7%

3,185

Green 3.1%

1,465

Bronze 2.2%

1,071

Yellow 1.6%

742

Purple 0.1%

Gold 0.1%

Orange 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Honda Hr V 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.

71,919

typical

56,163

low mileage

88,986

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Honda Hr V vehicles fall between 56,163 and 88,986 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 56,163 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.

✓ 56,163–88,986 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Honda Hr Vs sit.

⚠ Over 120,131 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Honda Hr V — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 17% of 2002 Honda Hr Vs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 327 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (17% of 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

15.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.84

Avg failures per vehicle

18.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Hr V: All Hr V years → Which year to buy? →

1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 2002 Honda Hr V stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing