CarVerify

Honda CD250U Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CD250U car check

Is the Honda CD250U reliable? We analysed 5,153 real MOT tests across 615 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Honda CD250U? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 5,153 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
83.1%
Typical Mileage
28,583mi
Annual Mileage
417mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
38yrs

The Honda CD250U 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 drive chain excessively loose. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CD250U.

Honda CD250U Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CD250U. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CD250U MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CD250U to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

90.4%
1997
86.3%
1995
86.5%
1994
85%
1993
82.1%
1992
83.5%
1991
82.8%
1990
81.9%
1989
83.4%
1988

Honda CD250U Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CD250U 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 67
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 54
Drive chain excessively loose 42
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 36
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 33
Drive chain worn to excess 33
Drive chain sprocket carrier worn to excess 31
Handlebar handgrip not secure to handlebars. 26
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when switched on 26
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 25

Honda CD250U Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CD250U owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
113 mi/yr
Typical
417 mi/yr
Average
1,076 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,208 mi/yr

Honda CD250U MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CD250U year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1997 52 90.4% 20,793 25,982 43,353
1995 80 86.3% 12,472 17,794 25,265
1994 89 86.5% 19,132 27,692 32,170
1993 474 85.0% 16,454 24,983 34,946
1992 1,008 82.1% 19,333 28,426 39,042
1991 971 83.5% 18,359 26,942 39,608
1990 953 82.8% 20,752 28,869 40,957
1989 1,004 81.9% 23,910 31,218 40,278
1988 441 83.4% 22,799 33,840 44,594

How Long Does a Honda CD250U Last?

Based on 615 Honda CD250U vehicles on UK roads.

Average
25.5 years
Median
26.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
38 years

Honda CD250U Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CD250U MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
28,583 mi
75th Percentile
39,938 mi
95th Percentile
58,622 mi
Max Recorded
323,225 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CD250U

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

Best year
1997

90.4% MOT pass rate from 52 tests

Year to avoid
1989

81.9% MOT pass rate from 1,004 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CD250U is 1997, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.4% across 52 tests. The 1989 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CD250U Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CD250U THIS CAR 83.1% 5,153 28,583 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
Suzuki Gsxr 750 K7 86.1% 9,388 13,980 mi 20 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CD250U outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda CD250U 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 CD250U

Should you buy a used Honda CD250U?

The Honda CD250U has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.1% across 5,153 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 CD250U are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (67 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (54), and drive chain excessively loose (42). 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 CD250U owner drives around 417 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 CD250U 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 CD250U — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CD250U reliable?
Based on 5,153 MOT tests, the Honda CD250U has a 83.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CD250U?
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 drive chain excessively loose. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CD250U do per year?
The typical Honda CD250U does around 417 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CD250U last?
Most Honda CD250U models stay on UK roads for around 38 years based on our analysis of 615 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CD250U?
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 CD250U?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CD250U is 1997 with a 90.4% pass rate across 52 tests.