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Honda C90MG Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda C90MG car check

Is the Honda C90MG reliable? We analysed 966 real MOT tests across 235 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 966 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.3%
Typical Mileage
20,436mi
Annual Mileage
267mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
39yrs

The Honda C90MG 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 has inadequate damping effect.. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda C90MG.

Honda C90MG Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda C90MG. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda C90MG MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda C90MG to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

73.6%
1993
76.7%
1992
77.3%
1991
80.5%
1990
86.3%
1989
76.7%
1988
77%
1987

Honda C90MG Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda C90MG fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 16
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 12
shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 11
Drive chain excessively loose 10
Motorcycle structure excessively corroded 9
suspension assembly has excessive free play in the pivot bearings. 8
wheel spindle securing nut locking device missing 6
Brake locking device missing 6
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 6
Horn not working 6

Honda C90MG Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda C90MG owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
65 mi/yr
Typical
267 mi/yr
Average
1,108 mi/yr
Heavy usage
992 mi/yr

Honda C90MG MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda C90MG year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1993 87 73.6% 16,576 26,291 36,239
1992 60 76.7% 17,468 26,158 30,102
1991 132 77.3% 12,878 20,802 28,031
1990 118 80.5% 11,590 16,092 20,712
1989 183 86.3% 8,554 19,585 23,755
1988 120 76.7% 9,466 23,623 31,151
1987 122 77.0% 16,092 23,774 37,652

How Long Does a Honda C90MG Last?

Based on 235 Honda C90MG vehicles on UK roads.

Average
21.7 years
Median
19.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
39 years

Honda C90MG Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda C90MG MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
20,436 mi
75th Percentile
27,412 mi
95th Percentile
41,323 mi
Max Recorded
323,923 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda C90MG

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

Best year
1989

86.3% MOT pass rate from 183 tests

Year to avoid
1993

73.6% MOT pass rate from 87 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda C90MG is 1989, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.3% across 183 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda C90MG Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda C90MG THIS CAR 81.3% 966 20,436 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
Seat Arona Xcellence Ecotsi S-a 88.8% 1,094 22,670 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda C90MG outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda C90MG?

The Honda C90MG has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.3% across 966 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 C90MG are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (16 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (12), and shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. (11). 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 C90MG owner drives around 267 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 C90MG 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.

Honda C90MG — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda C90MG reliable?
Based on 966 MOT tests, the Honda C90MG has a 81.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda C90MG?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and shock absorber has inadequate damping effect.. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda C90MG do per year?
The typical Honda C90MG does around 267 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda C90MG last?
Most Honda C90MG models stay on UK roads for around 39 years based on our analysis of 235 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda C90MG?
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 C90MG?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda C90MG is 1989 with a 86.3% pass rate across 183 tests.