CarVerify

Honda CN250 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CN250 car check

Is the Honda CN250 reliable? We analysed 1,534 real MOT tests across 197 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Honda CN250? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 1,534 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
84.6%
Typical Mileage
23,237mi
Annual Mileage
421mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
36yrs

The Honda CN250 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CN250.

Honda CN250 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CN250. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CN250 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CN250 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

80.6%
1997
92.2%
1992
83%
1991
84.3%
1990

Honda CN250 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CN250 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 51
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 36
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 18
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 13
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 11
Exhaust excessively deteriorated 8
suspension assembly excessive wear or free play in a front suspension component 6
wheel bearings have excessive free play 5

Honda CN250 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Honda CN250 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 8

Honda CN250 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CN250 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
140 mi/yr
Typical
421 mi/yr
Average
980 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,186 mi/yr

Honda CN250 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CN250 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1997 62 80.6% 20,317 25,772 35,067
1992 102 92.2% 15,492 20,680 29,593
1991 264 83.0% 15,432 23,051 32,236
1990 880 84.3% 15,662 23,469 34,739

How Long Does a Honda CN250 Last?

Based on 197 Honda CN250 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
24.6 years
Median
24.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
36 years

Honda CN250 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CN250 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
23,237 mi
75th Percentile
33,738 mi
95th Percentile
54,089 mi
Max Recorded
267,741 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CN250

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

Best year
1992

92.2% MOT pass rate from 102 tests

Year to avoid
1997

80.6% MOT pass rate from 62 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CN250 is 1992, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.2% across 102 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CN250 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CN250 THIS CAR 84.6% 1,534 23,237 mi 36 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 Gsx 1300 RK5 88% 2,316 15,061 mi 22 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CN250 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda CN250 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 CN250

Should you buy a used Honda CN250?

The Honda CN250 has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.6% across 1,534 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 CN250 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (51 recorded failures), exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey (36), and roller brake test indicates a binding brake (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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda CN250 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Honda CN250 owner drives around 421 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 CN250 models stay on UK roads for around 36 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 CN250 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CN250 reliable?
Based on 1,534 MOT tests, the Honda CN250 has a 84.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CN250?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey, and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CN250 do per year?
The typical Honda CN250 does around 421 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CN250 last?
Most Honda CN250 models stay on UK roads for around 36 years based on our analysis of 197 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CN250?
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 CN250?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CN250 is 1992 with a 92.2% pass rate across 102 tests.