Honda Lead Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda Lead car check
Is the Honda Lead reliable? We analysed 1,384 real MOT tests across 189 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda Lead? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda Lead 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 lever has inadequate reserve travel and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Lead.
Honda Lead Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda Lead. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda Lead MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda Lead to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda Lead Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda Lead fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda Lead Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Honda Lead models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Honda Lead Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda Lead owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda Lead MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Lead year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 100 | 82.0% | 6,068 | 14,184 | 22,148 |
| 2010 | 155 | 87.7% | 6,208 | 12,059 | 21,592 |
| 2009 | 337 | 83.1% | 8,435 | 14,489 | 25,153 |
| 2008 | 530 | 82.6% | 5,260 | 10,434 | 20,233 |
| 2004 | 51 | 78.4% | 6,064 | 9,022 | 13,395 |
How Long Does a Honda Lead Last?
Based on 189 Honda Lead vehicles on UK roads.
Honda Lead Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda Lead 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 Lead
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
87.7% MOT pass rate from 155 tests
78.4% MOT pass rate from 51 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda Lead is 2010, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.7% across 155 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 78.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda Lead Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Lead THIS CAR | 82.6% | 1,384 | 11,668 mi | 22 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 |
| Rover 2200 Tc | 74.3% | 950 | 55,042 mi | 52 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Lead outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda Lead 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 LeadShould you buy a used Honda Lead?
The Honda Lead has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.6% across 1,384 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 Lead are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (45 recorded failures), brake lever has inadequate reserve travel (16), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (14). 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 Lead 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 Lead owner drives around 1,358 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 Lead models stay on UK roads for around 22 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.