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Honda Bros Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Bros car check

Is the Honda Bros reliable? We analysed 4,211 real MOT tests across 468 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 4,211 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.0%
Typical Mileage
40,308mi
Annual Mileage
1,021mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
38yrs

The Honda Bros is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Bros.

Honda Bros Number Plates

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

Honda Bros MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

77.3%
2004
74%
2003
75.4%
2002
83.9%
2001
79%
2000
82.5%
1999
80.4%
1998
82%
1997
80.6%
1996
76.5%
1995
76.5%
1994
78%
1991
81.6%
1990
78.4%
1989
80.2%
1988

Honda Bros Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 79
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 75
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 51
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 46
Tyre valve stem damaged which could cause sudden tyre deflation 41
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 41
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when switched on 39
Drive chain excessively loose 34
Headlamp aim too high 26
reflector on motorcycle missing 24

Honda Bros Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
326 mi/yr
Typical
1,021 mi/yr
Average
2,217 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,420 mi/yr

Honda Bros MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2004 66 77.3% 31,615 39,560 45,794
2003 100 74.0% 14,518 31,666 46,467
2002 126 75.4% 22,056 38,613 59,451
2001 180 83.9% 26,352 32,655 55,120
2000 267 79.0% 23,563 36,882 46,868
1999 423 82.5% 21,712 39,429 54,394
1998 531 80.4% 30,735 44,629 55,739
1997 677 82.0% 23,856 37,365 56,672
1996 496 80.6% 24,062 35,934 50,450
1995 217 76.5% 32,476 48,440 65,330
1994 81 76.5% 49,666 64,846 70,588
1991 141 78.0% 39,672 53,237 67,574
1990 76 81.6% 26,131 47,462 87,769
1989 241 78.4% 27,687 39,522 50,906
1988 410 80.2% 27,279 41,416 59,885

How Long Does a Honda Bros Last?

Based on 468 Honda Bros vehicles on UK roads.

Average
19.3 years
Median
19.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
38 years

Honda Bros Mileage Distribution

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

Median
40,308 mi
75th Percentile
57,080 mi
95th Percentile
83,158 mi
Max Recorded
452,222 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Bros

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

Best year
2001

83.9% MOT pass rate from 180 tests

Year to avoid
2003

74.0% MOT pass rate from 100 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Bros is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.9% across 180 tests. The 2003 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Bros Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Bros THIS CAR 80.0% 4,211 40,308 mi 38 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
Kawasaki GT750 79.8% 6,181 34,802 mi 44 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Bros sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda Bros?

The Honda Bros has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.0% across 4,211 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 Bros are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (79 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (75), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (51). 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 Bros owner drives around 1,021 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 Bros models stay on UK roads for around 38 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 Bros — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Bros reliable?
Based on 4,211 MOT tests, the Honda Bros has a 80.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Bros?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Bros do per year?
The typical Honda Bros does around 1,021 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Bros last?
Most Honda Bros models stay on UK roads for around 38 years based on our analysis of 468 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Bros?
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 Bros?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Bros is 2001 with a 83.9% pass rate across 180 tests.