Honda Jazz
The 1.2L i-DSI in the Jazz GD (2002–2008) is fundamentally long-lived, but typically suffers from EGR valve carbon build-up and, in CVT variants, gearbox oil problems from the factory fill. Electrical weaknesses (ABS, ignition coils) are also known.
City car with no energy
78 hp i-DSI overtakes nobody on the motorway. Brilliantly practical in town, out of its depth on the open road. Too tall a top gear. A useful A-to-B engine; zero driving fun.
Engine Weaknesses 4
Some Jazz GD CVT automatics were filled with the wrong transmission fluid at the factory, causing slip and judder on acceleration. In severe cases, gearbox damage occurred. Honda covered repairs under goodwill on affected vehicles.
Symptoms: Slip and judder on pull-away, delayed power transfer in automatic mode
The EGR valve on the i-DSI engine carbons up over time and can stick open. This allows too much exhaust gas into the intake tract, causing hesitation and stalling at idle. Spark plugs wear faster as a result.
Symptoms: Hesitation and stalling at idle, increased fuel consumption, black soot at the exhaust
Early Jazz GD models from 2002–2003 have a high rate of ABS control module failures. A full replacement is required as repair is uneconomical. Mainly affects older high-mileage examples.
Symptoms: ABS warning light on permanently, ABS function unavailable, fault codes in control module
Due to EGR-related combustion degradation, ignition coils on the L12A i-DSI fail more frequently than on comparable engines. The 1.3 i-DSI with 8 spark plugs also carries correspondingly higher maintenance costs.
Symptoms: Misfires, hesitation on acceleration, engine warning light illuminates
Vehicle Weaknesses 5
On early 2002/2003 model years, ABS modulator units fail more frequently. Primarily affects first-production vehicles, which has safety implications.
Rust forms on the lower door edges and tailgate of older examples. The door seals become porous and allow water ingress, accelerating rust.
The air conditioning fails frequently — typical causes are a defective relay, the compressor magnetic clutch, or the compressor itself. Repairs are costly.
The anti-roll bar drop links wear at higher mileage and cause rattling from the suspension. The suspension tuning is also fundamentally firm and offers little comfort.
The brake shoes of the rear drum brakes get contaminated and cause uneven braking. Regular cleaning and inspection are needed to avoid MOT failures.
Reports & Tests
585 owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2002–2008). Most reported: Airbags (123), Body Structure (105), Steering (98).