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Honda Dominator Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Dominator car check

Is the Honda Dominator reliable? We analysed 1,401 real MOT tests across 163 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,401 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
82.5%
Typical Mileage
23,206mi
Annual Mileage
488mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
38yrs

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

Honda Dominator Number Plates

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

Honda Dominator MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

84.9%
2001
87.3%
2000
79%
1999
82.1%
1997
78.8%
1996
88.5%
1995
81.3%
1994
85.1%
1992
82.8%
1991
88.5%
1989
87.7%
1988

Honda Dominator Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 16
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 11
reflector on motorcycle missing 11
Drive chain worn to excess 10
Drive chain sprocket worn to excess 10
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 10
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 9
Handlebar handgrip not secure to handlebars. 8
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 8
Drive chain excessively loose 7

Honda Dominator Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
145 mi/yr
Typical
488 mi/yr
Average
1,102 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,313 mi/yr

Honda Dominator MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2001 53 84.9% 9,044 32,118 37,602
2000 71 87.3% 7,929 11,215 28,792
1999 81 79.0% 10,234 15,641 34,034
1997 112 82.1% 22,440 29,992 41,917
1996 339 78.8% 13,838 22,822 30,200
1995 165 88.5% 11,293 17,961 23,194
1994 96 81.3% 14,955 26,653 33,271
1992 67 85.1% 20,292 34,535 39,650
1991 64 82.8% 28,852 31,584 35,052
1989 96 88.5% 2,671 28,634 38,585
1988 65 87.7% 20,031 26,645 28,282

How Long Does a Honda Dominator Last?

Based on 163 Honda Dominator vehicles on UK roads.

Average
21.1 years
Median
22.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
38 years

Honda Dominator Mileage Distribution

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

Median
23,206 mi
75th Percentile
34,369 mi
95th Percentile
51,429 mi
Max Recorded
222,592 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Dominator

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

Best year
1989

88.5% MOT pass rate from 96 tests

Year to avoid
1996

78.8% MOT pass rate from 339 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Dominator is 1989, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.5% across 96 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 78.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Dominator Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Dominator THIS CAR 82.5% 1,401 23,206 mi 38 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 GSX550 79.9% 1,167 34,378 mi 43 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Honda Dominator?

The Honda Dominator has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.5% across 1,401 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 Dominator are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (16 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (11), and reflector on motorcycle missing (11). 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 Dominator owner drives around 488 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 Dominator models stay on UK roads for around 38 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 Dominator — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Dominator reliable?
Based on 1,401 MOT tests, the Honda Dominator has a 82.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Dominator?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and reflector on motorcycle missing. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Dominator do per year?
The typical Honda Dominator does around 488 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Dominator last?
Most Honda Dominator models stay on UK roads for around 38 years based on our analysis of 163 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Dominator?
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 Dominator?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Dominator is 1989 with a 88.5% pass rate across 96 tests.