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Honda Nsr Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Nsr car check

Is the Honda Nsr reliable? We analysed 1,804 real MOT tests across 380 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,804 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
78.8%
Typical Mileage
17,901mi
Annual Mileage
630mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
36yrs

The Honda Nsr is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and drive chain excessively loose. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Nsr.

Honda Nsr Number Plates

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

Honda Nsr MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

84.9%
2017
67.1%
2004
76.7%
2003
68.9%
2002
67.4%
2001
74.2%
2000
67.3%
1999
58.2%
1998
82.4%
1995
83.6%
1994
84.5%
1993
85.1%
1992
87.7%
1990

Honda Nsr Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 48
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 41
Drive chain excessively loose 25
reflector on motorcycle missing 24
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 23
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 22
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 19
Direction indicators not working 14
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 13
Headlamp aim too low 13

Honda Nsr Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
117 mi/yr
Typical
630 mi/yr
Average
1,583 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,995 mi/yr

Honda Nsr MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2017 53 84.9% 11,934 14,385 20,834
2004 76 67.1% 18,651 24,142 29,827
2003 129 76.7% 8,688 14,925 22,288
2002 183 68.9% 11,672 19,575 27,653
2001 144 67.4% 8,204 19,464 31,107
2000 93 74.2% 13,326 17,317 25,842
1999 104 67.3% 10,774 23,338 31,682
1998 55 58.2% 14,981 19,646 24,466
1995 68 82.4% 22,372 25,041 41,865
1994 122 83.6% 14,312 17,478 21,400
1993 71 84.5% 17,313 24,151 26,775
1992 74 85.1% 13,995 17,796 21,454
1990 65 87.7% 14,309 18,688 20,940

How Long Does a Honda Nsr Last?

Based on 380 Honda Nsr vehicles on UK roads.

Average
18.9 years
Median
20.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
36 years

Honda Nsr Mileage Distribution

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

Median
17,901 mi
75th Percentile
25,394 mi
95th Percentile
40,685 mi
Max Recorded
545,900 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Nsr

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

Best year
1990

87.7% MOT pass rate from 65 tests

Year to avoid
1998

58.2% MOT pass rate from 55 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Nsr is 1990, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.7% across 65 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 58.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Nsr Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Nsr THIS CAR 78.8% 1,804 17,901 mi 36 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
Seat Leon Ecomotive SE Tech TDI 90% 713 89,092 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Nsr sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda Nsr?

The Honda Nsr has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.8% across 1,804 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 Nsr are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (48 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (41), and drive chain excessively loose (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 Nsr owner drives around 630 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 Nsr models stay on UK roads for around 36 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 Nsr — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Nsr reliable?
Based on 1,804 MOT tests, the Honda Nsr has a 78.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Nsr?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and drive chain excessively loose. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Nsr do per year?
The typical Honda Nsr does around 630 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Nsr last?
Most Honda Nsr models stay on UK roads for around 36 years based on our analysis of 380 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Nsr?
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 Nsr?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Nsr is 1990 with a 87.7% pass rate across 65 tests.