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Aprilia Area 51 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Aprilia Area 51 car check

Is the Aprilia Area 51 reliable? We analysed 1,332 real MOT tests across 330 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,332 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
76.0%
Typical Mileage
7,868mi
Annual Mileage
504mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
28yrs

The Aprilia Area 51 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Aprilia Area 51.

Aprilia Area 51 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Aprilia Area 51. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Aprilia Area 51 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Aprilia Area 51 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

78.4%
2003
75.2%
2002
71.2%
2001
74.9%
2000
75.8%
1999
87%
1998

Aprilia Area 51 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Aprilia Area 51 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 77
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 47
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 31
Tyre tread not clearly visible 20
Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel 15
suspension has excessive stiffness in the suspension movement. 14
Headlamp aim too high 13
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 13
suspension has inadequate damping effect. 12
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 10

Aprilia Area 51 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Aprilia Area 51 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
104 mi/yr
Typical
504 mi/yr
Average
1,148 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,371 mi/yr

Aprilia Area 51 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Aprilia Area 51 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 199 78.4% 3,254 6,206 10,668
2002 157 75.2% 5,362 7,912 11,398
2001 236 71.2% 5,114 7,470 11,783
2000 319 74.9% 5,060 8,756 13,074
1999 293 75.8% 4,590 8,451 13,464
1998 115 87.0% 1,784 4,943 12,443

How Long Does a Aprilia Area 51 Last?

Based on 330 Aprilia Area 51 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
9.1 years
Median
7.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
28 years

Aprilia Area 51 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Aprilia Area 51 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
7,868 mi
75th Percentile
12,230 mi
95th Percentile
19,912 mi
Max Recorded
102,541 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Aprilia Area 51

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1998

87.0% MOT pass rate from 115 tests

Year to avoid
2001

71.2% MOT pass rate from 236 tests

The best year to buy a used Aprilia Area 51 is 1998, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.0% across 115 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Aprilia Area 51 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Aprilia Area 51 THIS CAR 76.0% 1,332 7,868 mi 28 yrs
Aprilia Rsv 86.8% 87,683 13,065 mi 27 yrs
Aprilia RS125 70.2% 51,570 13,624 mi 31 yrs
Aprilia Tuono 89.5% 42,169 11,799 mi 24 yrs
Indian Motorcycle Roadmaster 97% 435 11,188 mi — yrs

Compared to the Aprilia Rsv (86.8% pass rate) and the Aprilia RS125 (70.2% pass rate), the Aprilia Area 51 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Aprilia Area 51?

The Aprilia Area 51 has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.0% across 1,332 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Aprilia Area 51 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (77 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (47), and exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey (31). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Aprilia Area 51 owner drives around 504 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Aprilia Area 51 models stay on UK roads for around 28 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Aprilia Area 51 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Aprilia Area 51 reliable?
Based on 1,332 MOT tests, the Aprilia Area 51 has a 76.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Aprilia Area 51?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Aprilia Area 51 do per year?
The typical Aprilia Area 51 does around 504 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Aprilia Area 51 last?
Most Aprilia Area 51 models stay on UK roads for around 28 years based on our analysis of 330 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Aprilia Area 51?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Aprilia Area 51?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Aprilia Area 51 is 1998 with a 87.0% pass rate across 115 tests.