CarVerify

Honda Express II Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Express II car check

Is the Honda Express II reliable? We analysed 835 real MOT tests across 202 vehicles to find out.

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

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 835 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
83.0%
Typical Mileage
4,852mi
Annual Mileage
85mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
47yrs

The Honda Express II is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp and direction indicator affected by the operation of another lamp. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Express II.

Honda Express II Number Plates

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

Honda Express II MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

79.7%
1985
83.7%
1984
80.7%
1983
84.8%
1982
88.3%
1981
84.2%
1980
74.6%
1979

Honda Express II Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda Express II 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 12
Direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp 12
Direction indicator affected by the operation of another lamp 12
Stop lamp affected by the operation of another lamp 9
Direction indicators not working 8
Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel 8
Tyre is incorrectly seated on the wheel rim 7
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 7
Horn not working 7
Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user 6

Honda Express II Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
17 mi/yr
Typical
85 mi/yr
Average
283 mi/yr
Heavy usage
287 mi/yr

Honda Express II MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1985 123 79.7% 1,448 5,463 6,893
1984 208 83.7% 1,954 4,851 6,450
1983 57 80.7% 976 3,150 8,635
1982 79 84.8% 3,479 6,289 7,517
1981 77 88.3% 2,383 5,012 7,618
1980 101 84.2% 1,891 2,550 5,029
1979 63 74.6% 2,779 3,622 3,975

How Long Does a Honda Express II Last?

Based on 202 Honda Express II vehicles on UK roads.

Average
30.7 years
Median
31.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
47 years

Honda Express II Mileage Distribution

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

Median
4,852 mi
75th Percentile
7,102 mi
95th Percentile
14,734 mi
Max Recorded
57,470 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Express II

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

Best year
1981

88.3% MOT pass rate from 77 tests

Year to avoid
1979

74.6% MOT pass rate from 63 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Express II is 1981, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.3% across 77 tests. The 1979 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Express II Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Express II THIS CAR 83.0% 835 4,852 mi 47 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
Mercedes-benz A 180 AMG Line ED Premium + A 92.2% 1,567 24,654 mi — yrs

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

Found a Honda Express II 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 Express II

Should you buy a used Honda Express II?

The Honda Express II has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.0% across 835 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 Express II are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (12 recorded failures), direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp (12), and direction indicator affected by the operation of another lamp (12). 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 Express II owner drives around 85 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 Express II models stay on UK roads for around 47 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 Express II — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Express II reliable?
Based on 835 MOT tests, the Honda Express II has a 83.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Express II?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp, and direction indicator affected by the operation of another lamp. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Express II do per year?
The typical Honda Express II does around 85 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Express II last?
Most Honda Express II models stay on UK roads for around 47 years based on our analysis of 202 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Express II?
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 Express II?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Express II is 1981 with a 88.3% pass rate across 77 tests.