Honda 400 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda 400 car check
Is the Honda 400 reliable? We analysed 1,546 real MOT tests across 183 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda 400? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda 400 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 shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda 400.
Honda 400 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda 400. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda 400 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda 400 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda 400 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda 400 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda 400 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda 400 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda 400 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda 400 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 75 | 73.3% | 16,749 | 24,213 | 31,963 |
| 2000 | 69 | 79.7% | 15,130 | 19,304 | 40,510 |
| 1999 | 141 | 80.9% | 27,516 | 37,663 | 45,830 |
| 1998 | 149 | 77.2% | 17,403 | 35,484 | 47,291 |
| 1997 | 246 | 82.1% | 18,669 | 25,018 | 40,858 |
| 1996 | 122 | 76.2% | 24,786 | 34,942 | 43,626 |
| 1995 | 102 | 74.5% | 17,531 | 25,562 | 44,472 |
| 1978 | 71 | 85.9% | 9,837 | 23,365 | 31,610 |
| 1977 | 97 | 87.6% | 15,689 | 35,914 | 55,535 |
| 1976 | 63 | 87.3% | 22,922 | 30,287 | 34,942 |
How Long Does a Honda 400 Last?
Based on 183 Honda 400 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda 400 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda 400 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 400
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
87.6% MOT pass rate from 97 tests
73.3% MOT pass rate from 75 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda 400 is 1977, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.6% across 97 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda 400 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda 400 THIS CAR | 81.2% | 1,546 | 29,804 mi | 50 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 |
| Dacia Sandero Stpway Comfort Lpg Tce | 88.5% | 1,034 | 25,015 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda 400 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda 400 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 400Should you buy a used Honda 400?
The Honda 400 has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.2% across 1,546 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 400 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (30 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (23), and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (17). 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 400 owner drives around 427 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 400 models stay on UK roads for around 50 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.