Honda FES125 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda FES125 car check
Is the Honda FES125 reliable? We analysed 22,568 real MOT tests across 2,436 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda FES125? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda FES125 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda FES125.
Honda FES125 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda FES125. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda FES125 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda FES125 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda FES125 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda FES125 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda FES125 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Honda FES125 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Honda FES125 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda FES125 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda FES125 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda FES125 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 275 | 84.7% | 5,180 | 10,668 | 21,472 |
| 2011 | 661 | 80.9% | 9,950 | 17,995 | 29,726 |
| 2010 | 760 | 80.9% | 9,935 | 18,646 | 29,751 |
| 2009 | 979 | 81.8% | 9,050 | 16,418 | 25,290 |
| 2008 | 1,753 | 80.2% | 9,855 | 17,278 | 27,909 |
| 2007 | 2,382 | 80.9% | 9,209 | 16,022 | 25,184 |
| 2006 | 3,531 | 79.2% | 8,943 | 15,888 | 25,236 |
| 2005 | 3,362 | 81.3% | 7,911 | 14,716 | 24,218 |
| 2004 | 3,485 | 80.7% | 8,488 | 14,859 | 23,339 |
| 2003 | 1,651 | 81.1% | 8,170 | 15,004 | 24,589 |
| 2001 | 343 | 78.4% | 7,461 | 14,073 | 21,314 |
| 2000 | 1,156 | 78.4% | 8,086 | 15,548 | 24,126 |
| 1999 | 1,339 | 77.2% | 8,881 | 14,398 | 20,477 |
| 1998 | 785 | 79.0% | 9,178 | 13,847 | 20,049 |
How Long Does a Honda FES125 Last?
Based on 2,436 Honda FES125 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda FES125 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda FES125 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 FES125
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
84.7% MOT pass rate from 275 tests
77.2% MOT pass rate from 1,339 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda FES125 is 2012, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.7% across 275 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 77.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda FES125 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda FES125 THIS CAR | 80.3% | 22,568 | 15,394 mi | 28 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 |
| Kawasaki VN800 | 86.2% | 28,140 | 16,043 mi | 31 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda FES125 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda FES125 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 FES125Should you buy a used Honda FES125?
The Honda FES125 has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.3% across 22,568 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 FES125 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (730 recorded failures), shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (728), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (654). 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 brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda FES125 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 FES125 owner drives around 1,456 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 FES125 models stay on UK roads for around 28 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.