Honda Legend MOT Failures
An analysis of 1,052 real DVSA MOT tests on the Honda Legend — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads.
Where the Honda Legend fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Honda Legend is anti-roll bar links worn — this model is 22 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 1,052 MOT tests, 5.83% of all Honda Legend tests recorded this as a failure.
Suspension failures typically mean worn bushes, drop links, or dampers. These affect handling and tyre wear. Budget £150–£400 per corner at an independent garage for full suspension overhaul.
Other notable weak points include headlight fault (6.3x the fleet average), wiper fault (5.8x the fleet average), and suspension pin, bush or joint worn (5.2x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Honda Legend's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 3 categories: Suspension, Lights & Electrics, Wipers & Windscreen. If you're inspecting a Honda Legend before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Honda Legend's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Honda Legend specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are anti-roll bar links worn (22x the average) and wiper fault (5.8x). suspension pin, bush or joint worn (5.2x) and suspension pin, bush or joint worn also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
The standout failure at this mileage is headlight fault at 6.3x the fleet average.
The shift from anti-roll bar links worn at lower mileages to headlight fault at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
What to check before buying a Honda Legend
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Honda Legend:
Suspension — check for anti-roll bar links worn, suspension pin, bush or joint worn. Lights & Electrics — check for headlight fault. Wipers & Windscreen — check for wiper fault.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Honda Legend?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Honda Legend MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Legend?
Based on 1,052 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is anti-roll bar links worn — at 22x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include headlight fault and wiper fault.
Is the Honda Legend reliable based on MOT data?
The Honda Legend has 4 categories where it fails more often than average. The main concern is anti-roll bar links worn. Always check a specific car's full history before buying.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
The most common high-mileage failures include anti-roll bar links worn, headlight fault, wiper fault.
How do I check a Honda Legend's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.