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Honda Bali Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Honda Bali reliable? We analysed 792 real MOT tests across 140 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 792 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.2%
Typical Mileage
12,320mi
Annual Mileage
516mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
33yrs

The Honda Bali is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey and stop lamp remains on when the brake is released. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Bali.

Honda Bali Number Plates

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

Honda Bali MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

82.4%
1997
82.1%
1996
81.9%
1995
83.3%
1994
79.2%
1993

Honda Bali Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 17
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 13
Stop lamp remains on when the brake is released 12
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 12
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 10
Tyre tread not clearly visible 9
Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel 8
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 6
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 5
Headlamp aim too high 5

Honda Bali Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
128 mi/yr
Typical
516 mi/yr
Average
824 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,086 mi/yr

Honda Bali MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1997 51 82.4% 4,359 8,791 12,901
1996 329 82.1% 6,877 12,180 18,444
1995 221 81.9% 7,361 11,576 15,742
1994 54 83.3% 13,597 17,063 24,803
1993 72 79.2% 12,927 16,828 21,716

How Long Does a Honda Bali Last?

Based on 140 Honda Bali vehicles on UK roads.

Average
16.4 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
33 years

Honda Bali Mileage Distribution

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

Median
12,320 mi
75th Percentile
17,410 mi
95th Percentile
25,726 mi
Max Recorded
46,619 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Bali

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

Best year
1994

83.3% MOT pass rate from 54 tests

Year to avoid
1993

79.2% MOT pass rate from 72 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Bali is 1994, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.3% across 54 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Bali Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Bali THIS CAR 81.2% 792 12,320 mi 33 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
Yamaha Xsr 700 (MTM690) 92.4% 516 4,382 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Bali outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda Bali 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.

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Should you buy a used Honda Bali?

The Honda Bali has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.2% across 792 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 Bali are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (17 recorded failures), exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey (13), and stop lamp remains on when the brake is released (12). 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 Bali owner drives around 516 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 Bali models stay on UK roads for around 33 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 Bali — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Bali reliable?
Based on 792 MOT tests, the Honda Bali has a 81.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Bali?
The most common MOT failures are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey, and stop lamp remains on when the brake is released. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Bali do per year?
The typical Honda Bali does around 516 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Bali last?
Most Honda Bali models stay on UK roads for around 33 years based on our analysis of 140 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Bali?
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 Bali?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Bali is 1994 with a 83.3% pass rate across 54 tests.