Honda GL1500 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda GL1500 car check
Is the Honda GL1500 reliable? We analysed 22,074 real MOT tests across 1,849 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda GL1500? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda GL1500 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 roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%.. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda GL1500.
Honda GL1500 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda GL1500. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda GL1500 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda GL1500 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda GL1500 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda GL1500 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda GL1500 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda GL1500 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda GL1500 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda GL1500 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 84 | 91.7% | 22,402 | 38,794 | 50,407 |
| 2002 | 145 | 83.4% | 14,660 | 23,790 | 35,929 |
| 2001 | 618 | 88.3% | 18,204 | 29,997 | 46,211 |
| 2000 | 2,798 | 90.3% | 19,044 | 30,039 | 44,285 |
| 1999 | 2,066 | 89.9% | 21,946 | 34,550 | 51,960 |
| 1998 | 2,259 | 90.1% | 23,998 | 38,881 | 56,574 |
| 1997 | 1,700 | 89.4% | 24,391 | 36,670 | 50,441 |
| 1996 | 834 | 88.4% | 24,459 | 35,105 | 56,378 |
| 1995 | 882 | 87.9% | 30,388 | 47,039 | 62,209 |
| 1994 | 801 | 89.9% | 33,550 | 50,305 | 67,326 |
| 1993 | 773 | 87.7% | 38,462 | 52,982 | 66,936 |
| 1992 | 1,209 | 89.3% | 39,490 | 54,692 | 72,424 |
| 1991 | 2,366 | 88.3% | 41,204 | 55,862 | 70,565 |
| 1990 | 1,925 | 87.4% | 44,354 | 58,598 | 74,737 |
| 1989 | 2,123 | 86.6% | 44,902 | 60,920 | 79,794 |
| 1988 | 1,287 | 85.7% | 39,034 | 58,607 | 77,003 |
How Long Does a Honda GL1500 Last?
Based on 1,849 Honda GL1500 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda GL1500 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda GL1500 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 GL1500
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
91.7% MOT pass rate from 84 tests
83.4% MOT pass rate from 145 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda GL1500 is 2003, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.7% across 84 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda GL1500 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda GL1500 THIS CAR | 88.7% | 22,074 | 45,492 mi | 38 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 |
| Yamaha MT-03 | 85.9% | 8,864 | 9,996 mi | 20 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda GL1500 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda GL1500 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 GL1500Should you buy a used Honda GL1500?
The Honda GL1500 has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.7% across 22,074 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 GL1500 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (177 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (150), and roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. (149). 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 GL1500 owner drives around 923 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 GL1500 models stay on UK roads for around 38 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.