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Honda: reliability & common problems

#14 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~185k
~114k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
516
Hondas inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
56/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100



Based on 516 used Hondas we inspected, they tend to be in noticeably worse shape than average — average condition 56/100 vs 61 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.

What we found

Most common faults

Fuel trim out of range · Engine
60%
Oil leaks · Engine
54%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
41%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
35%
Cracked or torn suspension bushings · Suspension
29%

Share of inspected Hondas where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 18% Good 30% Mediocre 24% Poor 28%
Hidden history

What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on Hondas.

81%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
8%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
29%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 23%

Compare with another brand:

Cross-shopping? Honda vs Toyota · Honda vs Ford · Honda vs Chevrolet

How long does a Honda last?

Across every Honda body style we've inspected — sedans, SUVs and anything else pooled together — the average one's condition dips below decent (a 55/100 score) around ~114k miles. It ranks Honda #14 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~185k. Shopping a Honda near that mileage? Expect more wear ahead — see which makes give the best odds at your budget.



Good cars by mileage
0 25 50 75 100 0–20k mi: 86% in good shape (14 cars) 20–40k mi: 88% in good shape (25 cars) 40–60k mi: 77% in good shape (43 cars) 60–80k mi: 72% in good shape (64 cars) 80–100k mi: 65% in good shape (68 cars) 100–120k mi: 45% in good shape (82 cars) 120–140k mi: 40% in good shape (65 cars) 140–160k mi: 19% in good shape (73 cars) 160–180k mi: 22% in good shape (32 cars) 180–200k mi: 12% in good shape (25 cars) 200–220k mi: 0% in good shape (8 cars) 40k 80k 120k 160k 200k mileage when we inspected it
Good cars by age
0 25 50 75 100 1 years old: 86% in good shape (7 cars) 2 years old: 90% in good shape (10 cars) 3 years old: 91% in good shape (23 cars) 4 years old: 81% in good shape (26 cars) 5 years old: 79% in good shape (29 cars) 6 years old: 72% in good shape (39 cars) 7 years old: 63% in good shape (43 cars) 8 years old: 50% in good shape (30 cars) 9 years old: 53% in good shape (30 cars) 10 years old: 45% in good shape (44 cars) 11 years old: 54% in good shape (35 cars) 12 years old: 37% in good shape (35 cars) 13 years old: 26% in good shape (35 cars) 14 years old: 29% in good shape (24 cars) 15 years old: 12% in good shape (26 cars) 16 years old: 17% in good shape (24 cars) 2y 4y 6y 8y 10y 12y 14y 16y vehicle age when we inspected it

Share of Hondas in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). The dashed grey curve is all cars we check.

Is Honda getting better?
▬ Consistent across generations 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 60% in good shape (age-adjusted; 53 cars, raw 57%) 60 2015–17: 65% in good shape (age-adjusted; 97 cars, raw 63%) 65 2018+: 56% in good shape (age-adjusted; 51 cars, raw 63%) 56 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+

Share of Hondas in good shape (60+/100) when inspected at the same age — 5–10 years old, age-adjusted — by model-year generation; the dashed line is the all-brand average. Compare every brand's trajectory →



Honda models we've inspected
Fit 30 cars · 70% good Odyssey 51 cars · 53% good CR-V 84 cars · 52% good Civic 141 cars · 51% good Pilot 44 cars · 41% good Accord 113 cars · 36% good Element 16 cars · profile soon Ridgeline 13 cars · profile soon HR-V 10 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2015 Honda Fit · 114k mi — flagged: oil leaks, fault codes recently cleared, tires condition & wear. Inspected Aug 12.
2017 Honda Pilot · 100k mi — flagged: oil leaks, fault codes recently cleared, fuel trim out of range. Inspected Aug 8.
The bottom line

Honda shoppers need to lead with the engine: fuel-trim faults and oil leaks hit most of these cars, so verify smooth running, look for seepage, and pull codes before anything else. Hidden history runs hotter than the pack—structural repairs at double the usual rate plus frequent panel repaints—so demand a proper frame and paint-depth check and walk if the structure has been touched. The 2015–17 generation holds the best age-adjusted shape while 2018+ softens; condition typically slides after about 114,000 miles, making that middle window the shrewdest buy if the powertrain checks clean.

FAQ
?
Is Honda reliable?
48% of the 516 Hondas we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 56/100 — they tend to be in noticeably worse shape than average.
?
What are the most common problems with a used Honda?
Across the Hondas we inspected, the items we flag most often are fuel trim out of range (60%), oil leaks (54%), tires condition & wear (41%).
?
Are newer Hondas more reliable than older ones?
About the same — comparing generations at the same age (5–10 years old), Honda's share of cars in good shape has stayed consistent.
Thinking of buying a Honda? Get the exact car inspected before you pay.
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Based on 516 inspections · updated Aug 12, 2026