Honda 400 Four Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda 400 Four car check
Is the Honda 400 Four reliable? We analysed 968 real MOT tests across 161 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda 400 Four? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda 400 Four is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, headlamp aim too high and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda 400 Four.
Honda 400 Four Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda 400 Four. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda 400 Four MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda 400 Four to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda 400 Four Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda 400 Four fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda 400 Four Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda 400 Four owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda 400 Four MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda 400 Four year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 66 | 84.8% | 24,973 | 27,406 | 37,958 |
| 1978 | 237 | 90.7% | 24,999 | 39,299 | 47,749 |
| 1977 | 271 | 90.0% | 25,594 | 40,910 | 49,812 |
| 1976 | 200 | 88.0% | 16,150 | 25,105 | 37,206 |
| 1975 | 107 | 84.1% | 23,494 | 35,851 | 57,120 |
How Long Does a Honda 400 Four Last?
Based on 161 Honda 400 Four vehicles on UK roads.
Honda 400 Four Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda 400 Four 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 Four
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.7% MOT pass rate from 237 tests
84.1% MOT pass rate from 107 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda 400 Four is 1978, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.7% across 237 tests. The 1975 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.1% — 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 Four Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda 400 Four THIS CAR | 88.3% | 968 | 35,720 mi | 51 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 |
| Jeep CJ7 | 78% | 731 | 73,065 mi | 48 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda 400 Four outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda 400 Four 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 400 FourShould you buy a used Honda 400 Four?
The Honda 400 Four has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.3% across 968 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 Four are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (16 recorded failures), headlamp aim too high (5), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (5). 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 Four owner drives around 236 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 Four models stay on UK roads for around 51 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.