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Honda NES125-2 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda NES125-2 car check

Is the Honda NES125-2 reliable? We analysed 1,020 real MOT tests across 105 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,020 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
83.1%
Typical Mileage
14,172mi
Annual Mileage
1,148mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
24yrs

The Honda NES125-2 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, roller brake test indicates a binding brake and brake lever has inadequate reserve travel. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda NES125-2.

Honda NES125-2 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda NES125-2. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda NES125-2 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda NES125-2 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

79.1%
2003
83.6%
2002

Honda NES125-2 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda NES125-2 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 20
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 14
Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel 14
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 13
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 11
Stop lamp remains on when the brake is released 10
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 10
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 10
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 8

Honda NES125-2 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda NES125-2 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
445 mi/yr
Typical
1,148 mi/yr
Average
2,016 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,386 mi/yr

Honda NES125-2 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda NES125-2 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 163 79.1% 8,932 14,647 26,770
2002 813 83.6% 8,245 14,565 21,383

How Long Does a Honda NES125-2 Last?

Based on 105 Honda NES125-2 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.4 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
24 years

Honda NES125-2 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda NES125-2 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
14,172 mi
75th Percentile
21,688 mi
95th Percentile
36,876 mi
Max Recorded
243,442 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda NES125-2

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

Best year
2002

83.6% MOT pass rate from 813 tests

Year to avoid
2003

79.1% MOT pass rate from 163 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda NES125-2 is 2002, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.6% across 813 tests. The 2003 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda NES125-2 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda NES125-2 THIS CAR 83.1% 1,020 14,172 mi 24 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
MG Miget 75.9% 958 41,221 mi 55 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda NES125-2 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda NES125-2?

The Honda NES125-2 has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.1% across 1,020 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 NES125-2 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (20 recorded failures), roller brake test indicates a binding brake (14), and brake lever has inadequate reserve travel (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.

A typical Honda NES125-2 owner drives around 1,148 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 NES125-2 models stay on UK roads for around 24 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 NES125-2 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda NES125-2 reliable?
Based on 1,020 MOT tests, the Honda NES125-2 has a 83.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda NES125-2?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, roller brake test indicates a binding brake, and brake lever has inadequate reserve travel. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda NES125-2 do per year?
The typical Honda NES125-2 does around 1,148 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda NES125-2 last?
Most Honda NES125-2 models stay on UK roads for around 24 years based on our analysis of 105 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda NES125-2?
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 NES125-2?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda NES125-2 is 2002 with a 83.6% pass rate across 813 tests.