2012 Honda Insight MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 72.4% of Honda Insights first used in 2012 passed their MOT first time, against 63.5% for all cars first used in 2012. Across 3,750 Insight first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and tyres.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Honda Insights first used in 2012 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
72.4%
of 1,211 first tests; all cars first used in 2012: 63.5%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
3,750
first tests, 2023–2025; 1,211 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
32.6%
of 1,211 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
118,000
middle half: 76,500–178,500 miles; all cars first used in 2012: 92,000

How the 2012 Honda Insight MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Insights first used in 2012 against all cars first used in 2012 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Insight figure was 8.9 points higher.

2012 InsightAll cars first used in 2012
60%70%80%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2012, test year 2021: 68.8%All cars first used in 2012, test year 2022: 67.4%All cars first used in 2012, test year 2023: 65.6%All cars first used in 2012, test year 2024: 64.3%All cars first used in 2012, test year 2025: 63.5%2012 Insight, test year 2021: 77%2012 Insight, test year 2022: 77.4%2012 Insight, test year 2023: 73%2012 Insight, test year 2024: 69.6%2012 Insight, test year 2025: 72.4%72.4%63.5%
View this chart as a table
Test year2012 InsightAll cars first used 2012Insight first tests
202177.0%68.8%1,798
202277.4%67.4%1,568
202373.0%65.6%1,291
202469.6%64.3%1,248
202572.4%63.5%1,211

Common 2012 Honda Insight MOT failures

Share of the 1,061 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment59.2%
Suspension23.7%
Tyres19.6%
Brakes18.4%
Visibility16.5%
Body, chassis, structure5.8%
Noise, emissions and leaks4.1%
Steering3.5%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Position lamp: not working19.1%203
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam11.9%126
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively9.7%103
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.5%90
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps7.9%84

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2012 Honda Insight before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.

Common 2012 Honda Insight MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2012 Insights, as a share of all 3,750 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge12.9%484
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened11.8%441
Brake pads: wearing thin10.0%376
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing9.2%346
Headlamp: has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output5.4%201

Questions about the 2012 Honda Insight MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2012 Honda Insight?

In 2025, 72.4% of Insights first used in 2012 passed their MOT first time, against 63.5% for all cars first used in 2012. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2012 Insight most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 59.2% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (23.7%) and tyres (19.6%). The single most common item was “Position lamp: not working” (19.1%).

How often does a 2012 Honda Insight fail its MOT?

In 2025, 27.6% of first tests on Insights first used in 2012 did not pass first time: 18.7% failed, and a further 8.9% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,061 of 3,750 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2012 Honda Insight MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 12.9% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (11.8%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (10.0%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (9.2%) and “Headlamp: has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output” (5.4%).

Is a 2012 Honda Insight reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 77.0% in 2021 to 72.4% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2012

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2012 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2012 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2012 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2012 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2012 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics

How the 2012 Honda Insight MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2012 Insight” means a Honda Insight whose date of first use falls in 2012 (61, 12 and 62 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2012, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.