Honda NS400R Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda NS400R car check
Is the Honda NS400R reliable? We analysed 1,608 real MOT tests across 311 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda NS400R? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda NS400R is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, reflector on motorcycle missing and tyre valve stem damaged which could cause sudden tyre deflation. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda NS400R.
Honda NS400R Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda NS400R. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda NS400R MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda NS400R to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda NS400R Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda NS400R fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda NS400R Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda NS400R owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda NS400R MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda NS400R year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 139 | 87.8% | 14,357 | 20,913 | 28,052 |
| 1987 | 159 | 85.5% | 12,994 | 23,739 | 27,165 |
| 1986 | 398 | 93.5% | 14,084 | 19,377 | 27,988 |
| 1985 | 466 | 89.5% | 16,440 | 24,362 | 33,130 |
How Long Does a Honda NS400R Last?
Based on 311 Honda NS400R vehicles on UK roads.
Honda NS400R Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda NS400R 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 NS400R
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
93.5% MOT pass rate from 398 tests
85.5% MOT pass rate from 159 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda NS400R is 1986, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.5% across 398 tests. The 1987 model year has the lowest pass rate at 85.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda NS400R Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda NS400R THIS CAR | 89.4% | 1,608 | 22,245 mi | 41 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 |
| Ktm 300 Exc Tpi 18 | 85.3% | 700 | 2,357 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda NS400R outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda NS400R 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 NS400RShould you buy a used Honda NS400R?
The Honda NS400R has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.4% across 1,608 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 NS400R are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (20 recorded failures), reflector on motorcycle missing (10), and tyre valve stem damaged which could cause sudden tyre deflation (7). 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 NS400R owner drives around 116 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 NS400R models stay on UK roads for around 41 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.