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Honda Legend Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Honda Legend reliable? We analysed 39,583 real MOT tests across 4,365 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 39,583 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.1%
Typical Mileage
95,156mi
Annual Mileage
4,513mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
38yrs

The Honda Legend is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Legend.

Honda Legend Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda Legend. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda Legend MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda Legend to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

84.5%
2009
82.8%
2008
82.9%
2007
83.1%
2006
70.4%
2005
79.7%
2004
76.7%
2003
78.4%
2002
74.5%
2001
73.4%
2000
72.2%
1999
73.6%
1998
71.4%
1997
71.3%
1996
71%
1995
72.3%
1994
69.1%
1993
68.8%
1992
69.2%
1991
64.6%
1990

Honda Legend Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda Legend fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 1,657
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 900
position lamp(s) not working 863
brake binding 853
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 783
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 759
constant velocity joint gaiter split 696
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault 575
Brake pipe excessively corroded 551
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 529

Honda Legend Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda Legend owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,187 mi/yr
Typical
4,513 mi/yr
Average
5,786 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,798 mi/yr

Honda Legend MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Legend year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2009 1,319 84.5% 42,041 67,023 94,815
2008 2,357 82.8% 41,316 65,843 92,343
2007 2,848 82.9% 41,470 67,922 98,714
2006 2,238 83.1% 43,023 67,813 98,422
2005 71 70.4% 112,967 127,107 131,927
2004 59 79.7% 83,502 105,619 118,622
2003 360 76.7% 51,651 77,031 107,824
2002 902 78.4% 56,972 87,269 119,104
2001 1,495 74.5% 58,334 84,026 109,883
2000 2,413 73.4% 58,320 85,163 119,990
1999 3,424 72.2% 70,194 93,462 120,537
1998 4,166 73.6% 73,093 96,835 127,627
1997 3,052 71.4% 81,043 102,054 131,607
1996 3,562 71.3% 83,883 107,491 131,617
1995 1,763 71.0% 81,105 105,836 132,813
1994 2,168 72.3% 85,640 111,262 139,608
1993 2,157 69.1% 98,487 121,810 143,016
1992 1,700 68.8% 100,301 122,546 148,468
1991 1,615 69.2% 85,697 115,906 147,322
1990 666 64.6% 79,996 93,978 118,590

How Long Does a Honda Legend Last?

Based on 4,365 Honda Legend vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.7 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
38 years

Honda Legend Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda Legend MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
95,156 mi
75th Percentile
125,513 mi
95th Percentile
174,999 mi
Max Recorded
1,333,975 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Legend

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2009

84.5% MOT pass rate from 1,319 tests

Year to avoid
1988

63.1% MOT pass rate from 390 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Legend is 2009, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.5% across 1,319 tests. The 1988 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Legend Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Legend THIS CAR 74.1% 39,583 95,156 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 Unknown 86.8% 20,218 10,498 mi 52 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Legend sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda Legend?

The Honda Legend has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.1% across 39,583 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Honda Legend are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (1,657 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (900), and position lamp(s) not working (863). 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 Legend owner drives around 4,513 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 Legend 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.

Honda Legend — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Legend reliable?
Based on 39,583 MOT tests, the Honda Legend has a 74.1% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Honda Legend?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Legend do per year?
The typical Honda Legend does around 4,513 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Legend last?
Most Honda Legend models stay on UK roads for around 38 years based on our analysis of 4,365 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Legend?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Honda Legend?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Legend is 2009 with a 84.5% pass rate across 1,319 tests.