CarVerify

Honda CRF450 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CRF450 car check

Is the Honda CRF450 reliable? We analysed 1,450 real MOT tests across 328 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Honda CRF450? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 1,450 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
84.1%
Typical Mileage
531mi
Annual Mileage
170mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
25yrs

The Honda CRF450 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre is unsuitable, reflector on motorcycle missing and horn missing. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CRF450.

Honda CRF450 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CRF450. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CRF450 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CRF450 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

86.5%
2018
82%
2017
85.5%
2015
90.2%
2012
72.5%
2008
87%
2007
86.7%
2006
81%
2005
84.7%
2004
78.4%
2003
83.1%
2002
77%
2001

Honda CRF450 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CRF450 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre is unsuitable 17
reflector on motorcycle missing 17
Horn missing 16
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 15
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 13
Horn not working 12
wheel bearings have excessive free play 9
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 7

Honda CRF450 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CRF450 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
38 mi/yr
Typical
170 mi/yr
Average
746 mi/yr
Heavy usage
485 mi/yr

Honda CRF450 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CRF450 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2018 52 86.5% 95 531 1,162
2017 61 82.0% 45 51 585
2015 62 85.5% 187 412 3,220
2012 61 90.2% 997 3,176 5,368
2008 51 72.5% 56 1,674 2,162
2007 108 87.0% 98 1,114 2,406
2006 60 86.7% 3 157 770
2005 174 81.0% 76 522 2,944
2004 98 84.7% 54 152 462
2003 204 78.4% 100 535 1,930
2002 160 83.1% 72 291 1,847
2001 61 77.0% 34 2,040 8,680

How Long Does a Honda CRF450 Last?

Based on 328 Honda CRF450 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.5 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
25 years

Honda CRF450 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CRF450 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
531 mi
75th Percentile
2,389 mi
95th Percentile
10,040 mi
Max Recorded
71,184 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CRF450

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

Best year
2012

90.2% MOT pass rate from 61 tests

Year to avoid
2008

72.5% MOT pass rate from 51 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CRF450 is 2012, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.2% across 61 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CRF450 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CRF450 THIS CAR 84.1% 1,450 531 mi 25 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
Toyota Aygo X Vvt-i 94.5% 806 45,050 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CRF450 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda CRF450 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 CRF450

Should you buy a used Honda CRF450?

The Honda CRF450 has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.1% across 1,450 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 CRF450 are tyre is unsuitable (17 recorded failures), reflector on motorcycle missing (17), and horn missing (16). 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 CRF450 owner drives around 170 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 CRF450 models stay on UK roads for around 25 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 CRF450 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CRF450 reliable?
Based on 1,450 MOT tests, the Honda CRF450 has a 84.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CRF450?
The most common MOT failures are tyre is unsuitable, reflector on motorcycle missing, and horn missing. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CRF450 do per year?
The typical Honda CRF450 does around 170 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CRF450 last?
Most Honda CRF450 models stay on UK roads for around 25 years based on our analysis of 328 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CRF450?
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 CRF450?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CRF450 is 2012 with a 90.2% pass rate across 61 tests.