Used car guide · 2004–2010

Honda FR-V common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Honda FR-V, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 21,398 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

21,398MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
5,999on the UK register
2009best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2010200920082007200620052004

What usually goes wrong with a Honda FR-V?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Honda FR-V in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Honda FR-V MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Headlights

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

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

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 3.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Brake pads

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Track rod ends

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Diesel

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 4.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Brake pads

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Headlights

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    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 joints

    up to 9.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007 and 2009.

    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.

  • Braking performance

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005 and 2008.

    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.

Honda FR-V MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2009 Honda FR-V did best (60% passed first time, 1 point above all 2009 cars) and the 2005 did worst (51%, 6 points below all 2005 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201060%60% +0222 (small sample)
200960%59% +13,571
200856%57% -14,974
200756%57% -14,972
200652%56% -44,149
200551%57% -63,082
200451%57% -6428 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Honda FR-V

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

  1. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.8× as often on the Honda FR-V as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the Honda FR-V as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the Honda FR-V as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Honda FR-V?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score