Honda FES250 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda FES250 car check
Is the Honda FES250 reliable? We analysed 6,421 real MOT tests across 585 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda FES250? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda FES250 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda FES250.
Honda FES250 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda FES250. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda FES250 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda FES250 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda FES250 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda FES250 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda FES250 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda FES250 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda FES250 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda FES250 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 186 | 82.8% | 7,106 | 13,171 | 25,202 |
| 2002 | 407 | 85.0% | 9,271 | 17,017 | 32,268 |
| 2001 | 1,116 | 85.4% | 10,067 | 17,144 | 26,308 |
| 2000 | 906 | 85.3% | 9,611 | 17,470 | 27,574 |
| 1999 | 904 | 83.5% | 10,483 | 19,307 | 27,756 |
| 1998 | 2,160 | 84.7% | 12,232 | 19,374 | 27,529 |
| 1997 | 725 | 84.6% | 13,822 | 21,468 | 31,937 |
How Long Does a Honda FES250 Last?
Based on 585 Honda FES250 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda FES250 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda FES250 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 FES250
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
85.4% MOT pass rate from 1,116 tests
82.8% MOT pass rate from 186 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda FES250 is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.4% across 1,116 tests. The 2003 model year has the lowest pass rate at 82.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda FES250 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda FES250 THIS CAR | 84.7% | 6,421 | 18,726 mi | 29 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 |
| Morris Mini 1000 | 74.2% | 7,176 | 49,765 mi | 58 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda FES250 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda FES250 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 FES250Should you buy a used Honda FES250?
The Honda FES250 has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.7% across 6,421 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 FES250 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (190 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (82), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (66). 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 FES250 owner drives around 772 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 FES250 models stay on UK roads for around 29 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.