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Honda 125 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda 125 car check

Is the Honda 125 reliable? We analysed 1,276 real MOT tests across 172 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,276 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.4%
Typical Mileage
16,656mi
Annual Mileage
1,245mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
31yrs

The Honda 125 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda 125.

Honda 125 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda 125. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda 125 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda 125 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

84.5%
2011
83.3%
2010
81.6%
2009
84.9%
2008
76.1%
2007
77.8%
2006
77.2%
2003
84.6%
2002
78.4%
1996
64.9%
1995

Honda 125 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda 125 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 29
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 22
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 20
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 15
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 13
Drive chain excessively loose 12
Drive chain sprocket worn to excess 11
Direction indicator not working 10
Headlamp aim too high 9

Honda 125 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda 125 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
287 mi/yr
Typical
1,245 mi/yr
Average
2,502 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,260 mi/yr

Honda 125 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda 125 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2011 116 84.5% 7,452 14,425 26,275
2010 54 83.3% 5,966 14,464 22,159
2009 87 81.6% 9,366 14,468 21,452
2008 119 84.9% 9,442 14,316 23,610
2007 109 76.1% 5,829 14,133 19,697
2006 72 77.8% 8,993 15,676 24,117
2003 92 77.2% 4,792 9,617 17,248
2002 78 84.6% 4,658 14,497 33,444
1996 74 78.4% 19,312 22,266 28,554
1995 57 64.9% 15,001 21,449 39,802

How Long Does a Honda 125 Last?

Based on 172 Honda 125 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
17.3 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
31 years

Honda 125 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda 125 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
16,656 mi
75th Percentile
25,532 mi
95th Percentile
51,050 mi
Max Recorded
353,376 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda 125

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

Best year
2008

84.9% MOT pass rate from 119 tests

Year to avoid
1995

64.9% MOT pass rate from 57 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda 125 is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.9% across 119 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda 125 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda 125 THIS CAR 80.4% 1,276 16,656 mi 31 yrs
Honda Civic 73.7% 9,391,580 74,987 mi 34 yrs
Honda Jazz 81% 5,740,892 48,635 mi 24 yrs
Honda Cr-v 78.5% 4,177,643 80,499 mi 29 yrs
Ford Fiesta Active Turbo 92.2% 1,020 16,806 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda 125 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda 125?

The Honda 125 has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.4% across 1,276 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 Honda 125 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (29 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (22), and roller brake test indicates a binding brake (20). 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 Honda 125 owner drives around 1,245 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 Honda 125 models stay on UK roads for around 31 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.

Honda 125 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda 125 reliable?
Based on 1,276 MOT tests, the Honda 125 has a 80.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda 125?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda 125 do per year?
The typical Honda 125 does around 1,245 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda 125 last?
Most Honda 125 models stay on UK roads for around 31 years based on our analysis of 172 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda 125?
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 Honda 125?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda 125 is 2008 with a 84.9% pass rate across 119 tests.