Honda Prelude MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Honda Prelude MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Honda Prelude passed on its first attempt in 70.1%, and its overall record sits −6.1 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Honda Prelude in the 2023–2025 data: 578 tests across 1 model years (2000–2000). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common Honda Prelude MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Honda Prelude, the Suspension section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Shares are over the Honda Prelude's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded Honda Prelude DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Honda Prelude, each with how many of the model's 578 tests it was noted on.

• "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 58 Honda Prelude tests, 10.0% of the model's MOT record.
• "Headlamp lens slightly defective" (Minor) — noted on about 33 Honda Prelude tests, 5.7% of the model's MOT record.
• "Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt" (Minor) — noted on about 30 Honda Prelude tests, 5.2% of the model's MOT record.
• "Rbt (sp) efficiency below requirements" (Major) — noted on about 28 Honda Prelude tests, 4.8% of the model's MOT record.
• "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 20 Honda Prelude tests, 3.5% of the model's MOT record.
• "Catalyst emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits" (Major) — noted on about 18 Honda Prelude tests, 3.1% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst Honda Prelude Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Honda Prelude model year on record is 2000 (74.9% across 578 tests), and the weakest is 2000 (74.9%). Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Honda Prelude Owners

These checks follow this Honda Prelude's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Honda Prelude.

• the suspension joints — “ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated”

  With the car parked on level ground, rock the top of each front wheel in and out while someone watches the suspension arm. Clunks, or rubber boots split and greasy, are what testers record here.

• the lights — “headlamp lens slightly defective”

  Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.

• the windscreen — “windscreen damaged”

  Check the driver’s side of the screen within the swept area for chips and cracks; anything larger than 10mm in the driver’s central view is a fail. Most chips can be resin-repaired for far less than a new screen.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Honda Prelude. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Honda Prelude MOT & Reliability