2011 Honda Accord diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2011 Honda Accord diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2011 Honda Accord diesel than on all cars registered in 2011.

• Headlights2.7× usual
  Honda Accord

  13% All 2011 cars

  4.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 3.1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

• Anti-roll bar bushes and joints10.8× usual
  Honda Accord

  6.5% All 2011 cars

  0.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

  At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

• Battery4.4× usual
  Honda Accord

  2.2% All 2011 cars

  0.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £80–£200 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check the car starts cleanly and there are no warning lights once running.

Common 2011 Honda Accord diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2011 Honda Accord diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  34% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Suspension
  33% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Brakes
  30% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Lights and electrics
  28% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  8% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

• Exhaust and emissions
  3% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

  At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2011 Honda Accord diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the 2011 Honda Accord diesel as on other cars the same age.)
2. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 10.8× as often on the 2011 Honda Accord diesel as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the battery? (Flagged at MOT 4.4× as often on the 2011 Honda Accord diesel as on other cars the same age.)
4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?