Honda 250 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda 250 car check
Is the Honda 250 reliable? We analysed 888 real MOT tests across 123 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda 250? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda 250 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, drive chain excessively loose and reflector on motorcycle missing. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda 250.
Honda 250 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda 250. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda 250 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda 250 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda 250 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda 250 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda 250 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda 250 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda 250 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda 250 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 77 | 90.9% | 5,836 | 10,846 | 15,439 |
| 1999 | 57 | 91.2% | 5,782 | 10,858 | 19,213 |
| 1998 | 85 | 83.5% | 8,655 | 13,295 | 22,835 |
| 1997 | 119 | 81.5% | 9,318 | 17,814 | 22,718 |
| 1996 | 81 | 80.2% | 8,615 | 15,646 | 24,190 |
How Long Does a Honda 250 Last?
Based on 123 Honda 250 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda 250 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda 250 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Honda 250
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
91.2% MOT pass rate from 57 tests
80.2% MOT pass rate from 81 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda 250 is 1999, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.2% across 57 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda 250 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda 250 THIS CAR | 83.7% | 888 | 15,654 mi | 30 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 |
| Harley-davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight 18 | 88.9% | 1,532 | 4,423 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda 250 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda 250 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Honda 250Should you buy a used Honda 250?
The Honda 250 has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.7% across 888 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 250 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (10 recorded failures), drive chain excessively loose (7), and reflector on motorcycle missing (7). 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 250 owner drives around 318 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 250 models stay on UK roads for around 30 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.