Honda NS125 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda NS125 car check
Is the Honda NS125 reliable? We analysed 3,986 real MOT tests across 901 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda NS125? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda NS125 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, reflector on motorcycle missing and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda NS125.
Honda NS125 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda NS125. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda NS125 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda NS125 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda NS125 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda NS125 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda NS125 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda NS125 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda NS125 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda NS125 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 54 | 72.2% | 12,429 | 21,634 | 27,496 |
| 2001 | 61 | 65.6% | 15,105 | 25,349 | 29,215 |
| 1994 | 65 | 64.6% | 10,375 | 23,550 | 27,928 |
| 1993 | 216 | 68.5% | 12,923 | 18,129 | 26,639 |
| 1992 | 538 | 66.4% | 15,153 | 20,906 | 28,319 |
| 1991 | 445 | 64.5% | 14,758 | 22,791 | 31,963 |
| 1990 | 807 | 63.2% | 15,739 | 23,449 | 30,828 |
| 1989 | 846 | 65.1% | 17,680 | 25,643 | 32,635 |
| 1988 | 354 | 67.2% | 19,488 | 24,622 | 31,835 |
| 1987 | 168 | 67.3% | 20,673 | 28,564 | 36,100 |
| 1986 | 202 | 66.8% | 16,322 | 24,170 | 33,844 |
How Long Does a Honda NS125 Last?
Based on 901 Honda NS125 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda NS125 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda NS125 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 NS125
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
72.2% MOT pass rate from 54 tests
63.2% MOT pass rate from 807 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda NS125 is 2002, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 72.2% across 54 tests. The 1990 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda NS125 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda NS125 THIS CAR | 65.8% | 3,986 | 23,246 mi | 40 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 |
| Ford Puma St-line | 90.4% | 4,721 | 27,823 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda NS125 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda NS125 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 NS125Should you buy a used Honda NS125?
The Honda NS125 has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.8% across 3,986 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Honda NS125 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (252 recorded failures), reflector on motorcycle missing (221), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (145). 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 NS125 owner drives around 605 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 NS125 models stay on UK roads for around 40 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.