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Honda CG125 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CG125 car check

Is the Honda CG125 reliable? We analysed 114,867 real MOT tests across 14,014 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 114,867 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
77.8%
Typical Mileage
18,034mi
Annual Mileage
992mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
44yrs

The Honda CG125 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CG125.

Honda CG125 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CG125. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CG125 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CG125 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

81.3%
2008
79.9%
2007
79%
2006
78.1%
2005
78.5%
2004
77.3%
2003
78.3%
2002
78.2%
2001
76.7%
2000
76.5%
1999
74.7%
1998
76.4%
1997
76.1%
1996
77.2%
1995
75.6%
1994
76%
1993
76.4%
1992
74.9%
1991
77.8%
1990
75.2%
1989

Honda CG125 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CG125 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 2,338
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 1,942
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 1,532
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 1,067
Drive chain excessively loose 1,004
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when switched on 837
reflector on motorcycle missing 736
Horn not working 702
Drive chain worn to excess 690
Direction indicator not working 678

Honda CG125 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CG125 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
268 mi/yr
Typical
992 mi/yr
Average
1,937 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,370 mi/yr

Honda CG125 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CG125 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 2,954 81.3% 7,181 13,837 23,082
2007 5,242 79.9% 7,338 14,112 23,134
2006 11,002 79.0% 8,354 14,998 23,622
2005 10,469 78.1% 8,390 15,490 25,517
2004 7,326 78.5% 8,908 15,894 25,050
2003 1,690 77.3% 8,645 18,221 30,162
2002 15,042 78.3% 8,390 15,356 24,186
2001 13,430 78.2% 9,870 17,260 27,138
2000 4,970 76.7% 10,500 17,239 25,748
1999 5,670 76.5% 11,174 17,670 27,047
1998 4,166 74.7% 11,998 19,636 28,991
1997 3,177 76.4% 13,384 22,464 32,408
1996 4,412 76.1% 14,975 23,453 33,852
1995 1,593 77.2% 15,448 24,906 34,452
1994 1,626 75.6% 13,825 23,466 34,934
1993 2,419 76.0% 14,548 23,220 35,702
1992 1,690 76.4% 16,499 24,036 36,396
1991 2,377 74.9% 13,892 23,230 32,312
1990 2,782 77.8% 14,654 23,265 30,746
1989 2,781 75.2% 15,850 24,465 33,948

How Long Does a Honda CG125 Last?

Based on 14,014 Honda CG125 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
17.4 years
Median
17.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
44 years

Honda CG125 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CG125 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
18,034 mi
75th Percentile
28,135 mi
95th Percentile
49,547 mi
Max Recorded
813,610 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CG125

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

Best year
1979

81.8% MOT pass rate from 400 tests

Year to avoid
1998

74.7% MOT pass rate from 4,166 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CG125 is 1979, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 81.8% across 400 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CG125 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CG125 THIS CAR 77.8% 114,867 18,034 mi 44 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
Ford Tourneo 80.3% 136,499 75,975 mi 22 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CG125 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda CG125?

The Honda CG125 has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.8% across 114,867 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 CG125 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (2,338 recorded failures), shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (1,942), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (1,532). 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 CG125 owner drives around 992 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 CG125 models stay on UK roads for around 44 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 CG125 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CG125 reliable?
Based on 114,867 MOT tests, the Honda CG125 has a 77.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CG125?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CG125 do per year?
The typical Honda CG125 does around 992 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CG125 last?
Most Honda CG125 models stay on UK roads for around 44 years based on our analysis of 14,014 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CG125?
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 CG125?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CG125 is 1979 with a 81.8% pass rate across 400 tests.