Honda Goldwing Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda Goldwing car check
Is the Honda Goldwing reliable? We analysed 7,606 real MOT tests across 726 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda Goldwing? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda Goldwing is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, roller brake test indicates a binding brake and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Goldwing.
Honda Goldwing Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda Goldwing. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda Goldwing MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda Goldwing to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda Goldwing Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda Goldwing fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda Goldwing Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda Goldwing owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda Goldwing MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Goldwing year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86 | 95.3% | 15,057 | 19,462 | 23,582 |
| 2007 | 141 | 92.9% | 13,355 | 24,453 | 42,762 |
| 2006 | 58 | 93.1% | 25,077 | 41,223 | 53,390 |
| 2005 | 98 | 95.9% | 18,610 | 24,148 | 32,410 |
| 2004 | 321 | 92.5% | 16,664 | 28,382 | 43,359 |
| 2003 | 268 | 91.0% | 23,426 | 36,103 | 53,737 |
| 2002 | 311 | 89.4% | 22,600 | 46,335 | 70,089 |
| 2001 | 161 | 91.3% | 30,281 | 40,577 | 51,328 |
| 2000 | 100 | 93.0% | 15,303 | 28,984 | 41,165 |
| 1999 | 185 | 91.9% | 24,913 | 33,351 | 46,632 |
| 1998 | 240 | 89.6% | 22,117 | 37,713 | 52,661 |
| 1997 | 323 | 91.3% | 29,483 | 43,152 | 65,227 |
| 1996 | 338 | 85.8% | 26,454 | 43,618 | 57,652 |
| 1995 | 295 | 88.5% | 34,579 | 48,486 | 63,424 |
| 1994 | 239 | 89.5% | 38,143 | 51,078 | 67,911 |
| 1993 | 232 | 86.2% | 38,555 | 50,265 | 74,659 |
| 1992 | 254 | 87.8% | 39,244 | 53,817 | 74,557 |
| 1991 | 346 | 89.3% | 42,322 | 51,140 | 66,736 |
| 1990 | 231 | 82.7% | 35,512 | 48,159 | 64,349 |
| 1989 | 338 | 83.7% | 43,300 | 58,732 | 68,910 |
How Long Does a Honda Goldwing Last?
Based on 726 Honda Goldwing vehicles on UK roads.
Honda Goldwing Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda Goldwing 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 Goldwing
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
95.9% MOT pass rate from 98 tests
80.4% MOT pass rate from 271 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda Goldwing is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.9% across 98 tests. The 1985 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda Goldwing Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Goldwing THIS CAR | 87.2% | 7,606 | 46,052 mi | 51 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 |
| Suzuki DR-Z400SM | 85.4% | 8,163 | 8,695 mi | 21 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Goldwing outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda Goldwing 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 GoldwingShould you buy a used Honda Goldwing?
The Honda Goldwing has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.2% across 7,606 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 Goldwing are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (77 recorded failures), roller brake test indicates a binding brake (67), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (49). 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 Goldwing owner drives around 808 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 Goldwing models stay on UK roads for around 51 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.