Honda CX500 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda CX500 car check
Is the Honda CX500 reliable? We analysed 20,820 real MOT tests across 3,408 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda CX500? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda CX500 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, roller brake test indicates a binding brake and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CX500.
Honda CX500 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda CX500. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda CX500 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda CX500 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda CX500 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda CX500 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda CX500 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda CX500 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda CX500 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CX500 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 53 | 77.4% | 26,442 | 56,458 | 69,969 |
| 2002 | 70 | 84.3% | 18,944 | 50,847 | 52,309 |
| 2001 | 70 | 77.1% | 26,126 | 50,258 | 64,208 |
| 1999 | 77 | 75.3% | 25,109 | 35,130 | 41,238 |
| 1998 | 129 | 82.9% | 17,742 | 29,980 | 39,996 |
| 1997 | 218 | 81.7% | 26,199 | 32,781 | 45,492 |
| 1996 | 207 | 80.2% | 26,807 | 35,777 | 49,622 |
| 1995 | 117 | 83.8% | 31,897 | 38,432 | 49,138 |
| 1994 | 114 | 86.0% | 18,129 | 33,850 | 41,405 |
| 1993 | 78 | 75.6% | 21,801 | 38,181 | 52,138 |
| 1992 | 88 | 79.5% | 28,799 | 31,308 | 57,860 |
| 1989 | 53 | 84.9% | 27,297 | 57,879 | 59,023 |
| 1986 | 73 | 83.6% | 27,378 | 35,694 | 44,029 |
| 1985 | 383 | 83.8% | 20,056 | 34,353 | 56,980 |
| 1984 | 338 | 84.9% | 24,925 | 39,634 | 51,178 |
| 1983 | 1,952 | 81.7% | 23,186 | 37,306 | 50,877 |
| 1982 | 4,259 | 82.4% | 25,214 | 38,944 | 51,681 |
| 1981 | 4,910 | 82.5% | 22,992 | 38,105 | 52,297 |
| 1980 | 3,342 | 83.5% | 25,986 | 39,685 | 55,782 |
| 1979 | 2,223 | 83.3% | 26,237 | 38,267 | 53,010 |
How Long Does a Honda CX500 Last?
Based on 3,408 Honda CX500 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda CX500 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda CX500 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CX500
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
86.0% MOT pass rate from 114 tests
75.3% MOT pass rate from 77 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda CX500 is 1994, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.0% across 114 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda CX500 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CX500 THIS CAR | 82.6% | 20,820 | 38,169 mi | 48 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 |
| Nissan Juke Visia | 84.6% | 6,567 | 56,482 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CX500 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda CX500 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 CX500Should you buy a used Honda CX500?
The Honda CX500 has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.6% across 20,820 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 CX500 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (356 recorded failures), roller brake test indicates a binding brake (279), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (205). 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 CX500 owner drives around 390 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 CX500 models stay on UK roads for around 48 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.