Honda CB550 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda CB550 car check
Is the Honda CB550 reliable? We analysed 2,429 real MOT tests across 501 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda CB550? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda CB550 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, roller brake test indicates a binding brake and horn not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CB550.
Honda CB550 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda CB550. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda CB550 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda CB550 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda CB550 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda CB550 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda CB550 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda CB550 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda CB550 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CB550 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 60 | 83.3% | 19,617 | 25,339 | 34,467 |
| 1980 | 51 | 88.2% | 11,320 | 26,474 | 37,768 |
| 1979 | 460 | 87.2% | 14,443 | 26,110 | 37,804 |
| 1978 | 502 | 81.1% | 19,310 | 29,673 | 39,546 |
| 1977 | 525 | 83.2% | 16,183 | 26,396 | 38,768 |
| 1976 | 265 | 85.7% | 15,845 | 33,911 | 46,870 |
How Long Does a Honda CB550 Last?
Based on 501 Honda CB550 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda CB550 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda CB550 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 CB550
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.2% MOT pass rate from 51 tests
81.1% MOT pass rate from 502 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda CB550 is 1980, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.2% across 51 tests. The 1978 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda CB550 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CB550 THIS CAR | 84.4% | 2,429 | 26,743 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 |
| Hyundai I10 SE Auto | 96.9% | 1,230 | 24,076 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CB550 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda CB550 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 CB550Should you buy a used Honda CB550?
The Honda CB550 has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.4% across 2,429 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 CB550 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (27 recorded failures), roller brake test indicates a binding brake (21), and horn not working (13). 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 CB550 owner drives around 208 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 CB550 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.