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Honda NH80 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda NH80 car check

Is the Honda NH80 reliable? We analysed 1,569 real MOT tests across 342 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,569 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.1%
Typical Mileage
4,819mi
Annual Mileage
250mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
44yrs

The Honda NH80 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber has inadequate damping effect., tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and brake lever has inadequate reserve travel. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda NH80.

Honda NH80 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda NH80. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda NH80 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda NH80 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

82.6%
1996
75.8%
1995
80%
1994
79.2%
1993
79.4%
1992
78.9%
1991
82.2%
1990
79.9%
1989
85.7%
1988
75.7%
1987
81%
1986
85%
1985
84.5%
1984
85.9%
1983
72.5%
1982

Honda NH80 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda NH80 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 44
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 27
Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel 25
Stop lamp remains on when the brake is released 18
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 16
Footrest missing 14
Roller brake test indicates a sticking brake 14
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 12
wheel bearings have excessive free play 11
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 11

Honda NH80 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda NH80 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
80 mi/yr
Typical
250 mi/yr
Average
679 mi/yr
Heavy usage
743 mi/yr

Honda NH80 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda NH80 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1996 155 82.6% 1,920 4,306 6,503
1995 91 75.8% 3,860 5,988 7,500
1994 90 80.0% 2,620 5,614 6,956
1993 130 79.2% 1,346 2,952 6,798
1992 97 79.4% 2,030 5,000 7,419
1991 109 78.9% 3,104 6,045 7,964
1990 101 82.2% 1,733 3,037 5,895
1989 134 79.9% 1,462 4,472 6,924
1988 154 85.7% 3,164 4,638 7,399
1987 74 75.7% 2,408 4,348 6,941
1986 58 81.0% 2,411 5,996 8,900
1985 80 85.0% 6,168 7,598 8,861
1984 84 84.5% 2,711 6,576 7,760
1983 78 85.9% 1,785 3,577 6,260
1982 51 72.5% 2,844 3,641 7,082

How Long Does a Honda NH80 Last?

Based on 342 Honda NH80 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
21.7 years
Median
20.5 years
Estimated max lifespan
44 years

Honda NH80 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda NH80 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
4,819 mi
75th Percentile
7,458 mi
95th Percentile
9,652 mi
Max Recorded
30,960 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda NH80

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

Best year
1983

85.9% MOT pass rate from 78 tests

Year to avoid
1982

72.5% MOT pass rate from 51 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda NH80 is 1983, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.9% across 78 tests. The 1982 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda NH80 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda NH80 THIS CAR 81.1% 1,569 4,819 mi 44 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
Harley-davidson Flhtc 90.1% 1,751 28,904 mi 41 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda NH80 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda NH80 you like?

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Should you buy a used Honda NH80?

The Honda NH80 has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.1% across 1,569 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 NH80 are shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. (44 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (27), and brake lever has inadequate reserve travel (25). 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 NH80 owner drives around 250 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 NH80 models stay on UK roads for around 44 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 NH80 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda NH80 reliable?
Based on 1,569 MOT tests, the Honda NH80 has a 81.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda NH80?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber has inadequate damping effect., tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and brake lever has inadequate reserve travel. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda NH80 do per year?
The typical Honda NH80 does around 250 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda NH80 last?
Most Honda NH80 models stay on UK roads for around 44 years based on our analysis of 342 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda NH80?
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 NH80?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda NH80 is 1983 with a 85.9% pass rate across 78 tests.