Honda Hornet Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda Hornet car check
Is the Honda Hornet reliable? We analysed 6,744 real MOT tests across 536 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda Hornet? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda Hornet 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 stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Hornet.
Honda Hornet Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda Hornet. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda Hornet MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda Hornet to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda Hornet Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda Hornet fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda Hornet Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Honda Hornet models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Honda Hornet Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda Hornet owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda Hornet MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Hornet year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 73 | 89.0% | 9,913 | 19,481 | 33,569 |
| 2010 | 153 | 88.9% | 9,030 | 15,485 | 23,540 |
| 2009 | 254 | 83.5% | 11,175 | 18,891 | 30,090 |
| 2008 | 424 | 85.6% | 10,441 | 19,890 | 32,251 |
| 2007 | 708 | 84.9% | 8,622 | 17,456 | 28,707 |
| 2006 | 351 | 87.2% | 8,816 | 14,187 | 21,482 |
| 2005 | 281 | 81.9% | 8,326 | 15,469 | 31,404 |
| 2004 | 246 | 87.0% | 9,162 | 15,868 | 27,192 |
| 2003 | 560 | 83.6% | 9,549 | 14,996 | 21,871 |
| 2002 | 586 | 86.7% | 12,820 | 18,604 | 27,560 |
| 2001 | 582 | 81.4% | 12,761 | 20,094 | 30,065 |
| 2000 | 344 | 84.9% | 13,236 | 19,973 | 32,573 |
| 1999 | 900 | 80.4% | 16,348 | 25,087 | 36,006 |
| 1998 | 908 | 82.3% | 11,965 | 23,122 | 35,030 |
| 1997 | 254 | 88.6% | 13,597 | 21,870 | 40,196 |
How Long Does a Honda Hornet Last?
Based on 536 Honda Hornet vehicles on UK roads.
Honda Hornet Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda Hornet 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 Hornet
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.0% MOT pass rate from 73 tests
80.4% MOT pass rate from 900 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda Hornet is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.0% across 73 tests. The 1999 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 Hornet Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Hornet THIS CAR | 84.1% | 6,744 | 19,308 mi | 29 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 |
| Mercedes A160 | 78.7% | 4,209 | 50,082 mi | 27 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Hornet outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda Hornet 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 HornetShould you buy a used Honda Hornet?
The Honda Hornet has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.1% across 6,744 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 Hornet are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (72 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (63), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (44). 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 Hornet 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 Hornet owner drives around 1,043 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 Hornet models stay on UK roads for around 29 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.