Honda Cb 400 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda Cb 400 car check
Is the Honda Cb 400 reliable? We analysed 1,387 real MOT tests across 172 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda Cb 400? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda Cb 400 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 tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Cb 400.
Honda Cb 400 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda Cb 400. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda Cb 400 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda Cb 400 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda Cb 400 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda Cb 400 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda Cb 400 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda Cb 400 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda Cb 400 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Cb 400 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 60 | 75.0% | 20,961 | 41,126 | 45,234 |
| 2002 | 58 | 87.9% | 10,925 | 22,782 | 39,328 |
| 2001 | 71 | 77.5% | 18,710 | 31,008 | 45,538 |
| 2000 | 106 | 82.1% | 34,954 | 46,116 | 56,420 |
| 1999 | 52 | 78.8% | 25,494 | 40,100 | 60,985 |
| 1998 | 95 | 84.2% | 11,918 | 28,020 | 37,892 |
| 1997 | 240 | 79.2% | 23,164 | 38,504 | 54,114 |
| 1978 | 73 | 83.6% | 20,592 | 23,683 | 31,366 |
| 1977 | 124 | 93.5% | 15,832 | 41,855 | 51,078 |
| 1976 | 98 | 87.8% | 16,414 | 23,270 | 37,518 |
How Long Does a Honda Cb 400 Last?
Based on 172 Honda Cb 400 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda Cb 400 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda Cb 400 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 Cb 400
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
93.5% MOT pass rate from 124 tests
75.0% MOT pass rate from 60 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda Cb 400 is 1977, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.5% across 124 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda Cb 400 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Cb 400 THIS CAR | 83.3% | 1,387 | 31,363 mi | 50 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 |
| Land Rover R Rover Sport Hse Dyn D MHEV A | 89% | 2,416 | 34,892 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Cb 400 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda Cb 400 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 Cb 400Should you buy a used Honda Cb 400?
The Honda Cb 400 has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.3% across 1,387 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 Cb 400 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (21 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (16), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (15). 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 Cb 400 owner drives around 437 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 Cb 400 models stay on UK roads for around 50 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.