CarVerify

Honda Gl Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Gl car check

Is the Honda Gl reliable? We analysed 4,140 real MOT tests across 727 vehicles to find out.

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

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 4,140 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
93.8%
Typical Mileage
15,690mi
Annual Mileage
1,190mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
50yrs

The Honda Gl is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include roller brake test indicates a binding brake, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Gl.

Honda Gl Number Plates

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

Honda Gl MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

98.2%
2020
98.9%
2019
97.9%
2018
97.7%
2017
97.1%
2016
94.9%
2015
97.1%
2014
95.3%
2013
96%
2008
94%
2007
86.9%
2005
89%
2004
82.3%
1984
89.2%
1982
87.5%
1976

Honda Gl Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 21
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 19
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 13
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 10

Honda Gl Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Honda Gl models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 22
Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 8

Honda Gl Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
403 mi/yr
Typical
1,190 mi/yr
Average
2,044 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,724 mi/yr

Honda Gl MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2020 55 98.2% 3,195 6,940 10,092
2019 261 98.9% 5,624 9,112 13,648
2018 518 97.9% 5,507 10,573 18,223
2017 266 97.7% 6,681 12,370 21,162
2016 276 97.1% 5,385 9,777 16,268
2015 831 94.9% 9,632 15,250 21,851
2014 524 97.1% 8,833 16,174 26,251
2013 128 95.3% 9,501 15,547 26,296
2008 50 96.0% 10,249 18,358 47,362
2007 50 94.0% 3,807 18,000 37,560
2005 99 86.9% 4,236 12,140 29,076
2004 91 89.0% 4,072 8,967 14,154
1984 96 82.3% 30,218 39,139 50,468
1982 83 89.2% 17,396 35,044 51,315
1976 80 87.5% 23,227 33,913 49,436

How Long Does a Honda Gl Last?

Based on 727 Honda Gl vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.8 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
50 years

Honda Gl Mileage Distribution

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

Median
15,690 mi
75th Percentile
30,266 mi
95th Percentile
60,205 mi
Max Recorded
369,036 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Gl

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

Best year
2019

98.9% MOT pass rate from 261 tests

Year to avoid
1984

82.3% MOT pass rate from 96 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Gl is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 98.9% across 261 tests. The 1984 model year has the lowest pass rate at 82.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Gl Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Gl THIS CAR 93.8% 4,140 15,690 mi 50 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
Hyundai Kona N Line T-gdi MHEV 89.9% 3,427 25,353 mi — yrs

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

Found a Honda Gl 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 Gl

Should you buy a used Honda Gl?

The Honda Gl has an overall MOT pass rate of 93.8% across 4,140 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 Gl are roller brake test indicates a binding brake (21 recorded failures), shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (19), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (13). 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 tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda Gl 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 Gl owner drives around 1,190 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 Gl models stay on UK roads for around 50 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 Gl — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Gl reliable?
Based on 4,140 MOT tests, the Honda Gl has a 93.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Gl?
The most common MOT failures are roller brake test indicates a binding brake, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Gl do per year?
The typical Honda Gl does around 1,190 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Gl last?
Most Honda Gl models stay on UK roads for around 50 years based on our analysis of 727 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Gl?
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 Gl?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Gl is 2019 with a 98.9% pass rate across 261 tests.