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Honda CM250 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CM250 car check

Is the Honda CM250 reliable? We analysed 1,826 real MOT tests across 299 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,826 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.7%
Typical Mileage
25,945mi
Annual Mileage
242mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
45yrs

The Honda CM250 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 CM250.

Honda CM250 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CM250. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CM250 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CM250 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

83.6%
1999
80.9%
1983
80%
1982
79.7%
1981

Honda CM250 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CM250 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 38
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 27
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 18
Drive chain excessively loose 14
Throttle operating incorrectly 12
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 11
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when switched on 10
Horn not working 10
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 10
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 10

Honda CM250 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CM250 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
56 mi/yr
Typical
242 mi/yr
Average
774 mi/yr
Heavy usage
791 mi/yr

Honda CM250 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CM250 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1999 55 83.6% 6,259 17,249 28,169
1983 246 80.9% 21,117 26,520 38,172
1982 499 80.0% 18,896 25,276 33,822
1981 777 79.7% 18,903 27,602 38,896

How Long Does a Honda CM250 Last?

Based on 299 Honda CM250 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
30.4 years
Median
30.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
45 years

Honda CM250 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CM250 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
25,945 mi
75th Percentile
35,210 mi
95th Percentile
56,312 mi
Max Recorded
95,416 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CM250

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

Best year
1999

83.6% MOT pass rate from 55 tests

Year to avoid
1981

79.7% MOT pass rate from 777 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CM250 is 1999, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.6% across 55 tests. The 1981 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CM250 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CM250 THIS CAR 80.7% 1,826 25,945 mi 45 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 GT 90.8% 3,423 10,519 mi 61 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CM250 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda CM250 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 CM250

Should you buy a used Honda CM250?

The Honda CM250 has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.7% across 1,826 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 CM250 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (38 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (27), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (18). 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 CM250 owner drives around 242 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 CM250 models stay on UK roads for around 45 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 CM250 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CM250 reliable?
Based on 1,826 MOT tests, the Honda CM250 has a 80.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CM250?
The most common MOT failures are 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. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CM250 do per year?
The typical Honda CM250 does around 242 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CM250 last?
Most Honda CM250 models stay on UK roads for around 45 years based on our analysis of 299 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CM250?
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 CM250?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CM250 is 1999 with a 83.6% pass rate across 55 tests.