Honda Gold Wing Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda Gold Wing car check
Is the Honda Gold Wing reliable? We analysed 1,548 real MOT tests across 162 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda Gold Wing? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda Gold Wing is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Gold Wing.
Honda Gold Wing Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda Gold Wing. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda Gold Wing MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda Gold Wing to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda Gold Wing Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda Gold Wing fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda Gold Wing Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda Gold Wing owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda Gold Wing MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Gold Wing year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 56 | 98.2% | 8,174 | 16,526 | 27,771 |
| 2004 | 51 | 92.2% | 18,021 | 27,688 | 30,662 |
| 1998 | 67 | 86.6% | 15,545 | 24,233 | 30,322 |
| 1995 | 81 | 91.4% | 53,628 | 62,442 | 67,924 |
| 1993 | 52 | 80.8% | 35,890 | 59,618 | 64,097 |
| 1992 | 58 | 84.5% | 20,306 | 59,917 | 67,456 |
| 1990 | 74 | 85.1% | 45,114 | 80,914 | 95,092 |
| 1989 | 113 | 89.4% | 37,008 | 55,844 | 70,883 |
| 1988 | 75 | 77.3% | 66,312 | 69,976 | 97,393 |
| 1986 | 53 | 88.7% | 42,476 | 48,509 | 61,189 |
| 1985 | 54 | 74.1% | 38,855 | 74,233 | 115,565 |
| 1984 | 60 | 90.0% | 57,616 | 65,726 | 69,057 |
| 1982 | 60 | 86.7% | 22,352 | 66,830 | 78,680 |
| 1979 | 141 | 84.4% | 30,302 | 33,557 | 46,174 |
How Long Does a Honda Gold Wing Last?
Based on 162 Honda Gold Wing vehicles on UK roads.
Honda Gold Wing Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda Gold Wing 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 Gold Wing
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
98.2% MOT pass rate from 56 tests
74.1% MOT pass rate from 54 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda Gold Wing is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 98.2% across 56 tests. The 1985 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda Gold Wing Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Gold Wing THIS CAR | 87.0% | 1,548 | 45,723 mi | 47 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 |
| Mazda 6 TS2 | 76.4% | 467 | 93,866 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Gold Wing outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda Gold Wing 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 Gold WingShould you buy a used Honda Gold Wing?
The Honda Gold Wing has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.0% across 1,548 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 Gold Wing are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (14 recorded failures), roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. (11), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (10). 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 Gold Wing owner drives around 722 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 Gold Wing models stay on UK roads for around 47 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.