Used car guide · 2003–2026

Honda Stepwagon common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Honda Stepwagon, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 8,850 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 2026 Honda Stepwagon

Cars registered in 2026 haven’t had their first MOT yet (it’s due at 3 years old), so there are no MOT results to show. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Honda Stepwagon as a whole.

232registered new in 2026 so far
2029first MOT due
Petrolfuel type
What to check on a 2026 car
  • Warranty left

    Ask for the date it was first registered and check how much of the maker’s warranty is left, and that it transfers to you. Electric and hybrid batteries usually have a longer, separate warranty.

  • Servicing

    Servicing on time with the maker’s schedule keeps the warranty valid. Ask for the service book or the dealer’s digital record.

  • Finance

    Nearly new cars are often still on finance. A history check shows outstanding finance, and whether it has been written off or stolen.

  • Recalls

    Ask whether any recall work has been done, and check the reg on GOV.UK’s free recall checker.

  • Logbook (V5C)

    The name and address should match the seller, and the VIN on the V5C should match the car.

Check for recalls on GOV.UK

Other years

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).

20262021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003

What usually goes wrong with a Honda Stepwagon?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Honda Stepwagon 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 Stepwagon MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Rear fog light

    up to 8.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    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.

  • Steering swivel joints

    up to 4.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010 and 2011.

    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.

Honda Stepwagon MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2012 Honda Stepwagon did best (83% passed first time, 19 points above all 2012 cars) and the 2011 did worst (76%, 14 points above all 2011 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202171%87% -16246 (small sample)
202066%87% -21269 (small sample)
201974%85% -11273 (small sample)
201867%83% -16230 (small sample)
201766%80% -14256 (small sample)
201665%77% -12279 (small sample)
201564%74% -10230 (small sample)
201477%70% +7317 (small sample)
201385%67% +18698
201283%64% +19845
201176%62% +14897
201076%60% +161,438
200973%59% +14713
200874%57% +17710
200769%57% +12328 (small sample)
200665%56% +9212 (small sample)
200563%57% +6354 (small sample)
200472%57% +15330 (small sample)
200371%57% +14225 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 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 8.2× as often on the Honda Stepwagon as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the steering swivel joints? (Flagged at MOT 4.1× as often on the Honda Stepwagon as on other cars the same age.)
  3. 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, 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