Honda Ballade Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda Ballade car check
Is the Honda Ballade reliable? We analysed 3,041 real MOT tests across 700 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda Ballade? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda Ballade is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded and constant velocity joint gaiter split. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Ballade.
Honda Ballade Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda Ballade. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda Ballade MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda Ballade to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda Ballade Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda Ballade fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda Ballade Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda Ballade owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda Ballade MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Ballade year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 135 | 63.7% | 55,746 | 68,326 | 81,778 |
| 1989 | 1,296 | 63.0% | 48,442 | 65,296 | 81,574 |
| 1988 | 769 | 65.7% | 48,927 | 63,398 | 83,201 |
| 1987 | 685 | 60.4% | 49,796 | 65,496 | 87,906 |
How Long Does a Honda Ballade Last?
Based on 700 Honda Ballade vehicles on UK roads.
Honda Ballade Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda Ballade 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 Ballade
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
65.7% MOT pass rate from 769 tests
60.4% MOT pass rate from 685 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda Ballade is 1988, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 65.7% across 769 tests. The 1987 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda Ballade Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Ballade THIS CAR | 63.1% | 3,041 | 65,881 mi | 39 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 |
| Ktm Unknown | 85.1% | 3,916 | 2,184 mi | 25 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Ballade trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda Ballade 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 BalladeShould you buy a used Honda Ballade?
The Honda Ballade has an overall MOT pass rate of 63.1% across 3,041 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.
The most common problems on the Honda Ballade are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (705 recorded failures), seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (473), and constant velocity joint gaiter split (235). 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 Ballade owner drives around 1,945 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 Ballade models stay on UK roads for around 39 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.