Used car guide

2005 Honda Stepwagon: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Honda Stepwagon first registered in 2005: we looked at the 354 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 354 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

354MOTs of 2005 cars, done in 2023–2025
63%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 57%)
5,200typical miles a year
10.2×the usual rate for rear fog light

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2005 Honda Stepwagon?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2005 Honda Stepwagon than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Rear fog light10.2× usual
    Honda Stepwagon
    13.3% All 2005 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 13.3%, against 1.2% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Common 2005 Honda Stepwagon MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2005 Honda Stepwagon MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    32% 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
    25% 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
    21% 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.

  • Steering
    7% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2005 Honda Stepwagon

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

  1. Any recent work on the rear fog light? (Flagged at MOT 10.2× as often on the 2005 Honda Stepwagon as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Honda Stepwagon?

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 Stepwagon compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2021246Suspension 29%
2020269Suspension 36%
2019273Lights and electrics 32%
2018230Suspension 37%
2017256Suspension 41%
2016279Suspension 36%
2015230Suspension 40%
2014317Suspension 22%
2013698Suspension 18%
2012845Suspension 17%
2011897Suspension 26%
20101,438Suspension 26%
2009713Suspension 32%
2008710Lights and electrics 26%
2007328Suspension 35%
2006212Lights and electrics 35%
2004330Lights and electrics 30%
2003225Suspension 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 Stepwagon cars first registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score