Honda Nighthawk Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda Nighthawk car check
Is the Honda Nighthawk reliable? We analysed 1,396 real MOT tests across 175 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda Nighthawk? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda Nighthawk is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and tyre valve stem damaged which could cause sudden tyre deflation. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Nighthawk.
Honda Nighthawk Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda Nighthawk. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda Nighthawk MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda Nighthawk to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda Nighthawk Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda Nighthawk fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda Nighthawk Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda Nighthawk owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda Nighthawk MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Nighthawk year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 80 | 85.0% | 18,714 | 24,900 | 31,928 |
| 1992 | 148 | 85.8% | 19,476 | 28,407 | 35,627 |
| 1991 | 101 | 86.1% | 16,434 | 26,788 | 42,931 |
| 1985 | 213 | 79.8% | 23,496 | 28,246 | 35,893 |
| 1984 | 158 | 81.6% | 15,890 | 24,987 | 31,409 |
| 1983 | 233 | 86.3% | 16,333 | 26,696 | 33,501 |
| 1982 | 148 | 74.3% | 13,142 | 26,166 | 30,272 |
How Long Does a Honda Nighthawk Last?
Based on 175 Honda Nighthawk vehicles on UK roads.
Honda Nighthawk Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda Nighthawk 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 Nighthawk
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
86.3% MOT pass rate from 233 tests
74.3% MOT pass rate from 148 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda Nighthawk is 1983, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.3% across 233 tests. The 1982 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda Nighthawk Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Nighthawk THIS CAR | 82.6% | 1,396 | 27,543 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 |
| Kawasaki Zx 1002 Klfa | 95.5% | 1,430 | 8,992 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Nighthawk outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda Nighthawk 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 NighthawkShould you buy a used Honda Nighthawk?
The Honda Nighthawk has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.6% across 1,396 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 Nighthawk are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (25 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (20), and tyre valve stem damaged which could cause sudden tyre deflation (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 Nighthawk owner drives around 460 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 Nighthawk 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.