Used car guide

2012 Honda CR-Z electric: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the electric Honda CR-Z first registered in 2012 (electric cars only): we looked at the 233 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 233 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

233MOTs of 2012 electric cars, done in 2023–2025
75%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 64%)
6,600typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for braking performance

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Honda CR-Z electric?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Honda CR-Z electric than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Braking performance2.7× usual
    Honda CR-Z
    12.9% All 2012 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 1.9% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Common 2012 Honda CR-Z electric MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 Honda CR-Z electric MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    33% 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.

  • Tyres
    28% 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
    28% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    11% 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
    4% 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 an engine warning light.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 Honda CR-Z electric

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

  1. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the 2012 Honda CR-Z electric as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Honda CR-Z?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Honda CR-Z compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2015–Too few tests
2014489Brakes 27%
2013864Brakes 29%
20114,216Suspension 31%
20103,832Brakes 31%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Honda CR-Z cars first registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score