Honda FT500 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda FT500 car check
Is the Honda FT500 reliable? We analysed 798 real MOT tests across 143 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda FT500? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda FT500 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, reflector on motorcycle missing and steering headbearing has excessive free play. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda FT500.
Honda FT500 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda FT500. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda FT500 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda FT500 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda FT500 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda FT500 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda FT500 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Honda FT500 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Honda FT500 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda FT500 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda FT500 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda FT500 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 81 | 93.8% | 5,302 | 24,158 | 36,040 |
| 1983 | 194 | 83.0% | 9,110 | 20,732 | 30,993 |
| 1982 | 409 | 80.9% | 16,730 | 22,828 | 34,575 |
How Long Does a Honda FT500 Last?
Based on 143 Honda FT500 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda FT500 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda FT500 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 FT500
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
93.8% MOT pass rate from 81 tests
80.9% MOT pass rate from 409 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda FT500 is 1984, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.8% across 81 tests. The 1982 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda FT500 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda FT500 THIS CAR | 83.3% | 798 | 21,921 mi | 44 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 |
| Volkswagen Polo S 64 | 77.6% | 749 | 95,111 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda FT500 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda FT500 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 FT500Should you buy a used Honda FT500?
The Honda FT500 has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.3% across 798 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 FT500 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (7 recorded failures), reflector on motorcycle missing (6), and steering headbearing has excessive free play (5). 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 valve stem seriously damaged. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda FT500 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 FT500 owner drives around 234 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 FT500 models stay on UK roads for around 44 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.