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Honda PC50 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda PC50 car check

Is the Honda PC50 reliable? We analysed 1,215 real MOT tests across 365 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,215 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
89.2%
Typical Mileage
4,413mi
Annual Mileage
53mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
58yrs

The Honda PC50 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension assembly excessive wear or free play in a front suspension component, position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on and roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%.. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda PC50.

Honda PC50 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda PC50. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda PC50 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda PC50 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

92%
1976
91.1%
1975
86%
1974
88.7%
1973
85.5%
1972
91.6%
1971
90%
1970
90.3%
1969
85.9%
1968

Honda PC50 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda PC50 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

suspension assembly excessive wear or free play in a front suspension component 11
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 10
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 10
Roller brake test No brake control achieves an efficiency of 30%. 8
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 8
Horn not working 8
Floor brake test No brake control achieves an efficiency of 30%. 7
Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user 6
Throttle operating incorrectly 6
Roller brake test Neither brake control achieves an efficiency of 25% 6

Honda PC50 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda PC50 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
15 mi/yr
Typical
53 mi/yr
Average
461 mi/yr
Heavy usage
184 mi/yr

Honda PC50 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda PC50 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1976 187 92.0% 2,415 4,111 5,986
1975 135 91.1% 2,106 5,091 7,738
1974 143 86.0% 3,498 4,874 6,508
1973 141 88.7% 2,833 5,076 7,231
1972 172 85.5% 3,317 4,431 6,595
1971 119 91.6% 1,988 2,536 5,884
1970 50 90.0% 3,696 4,767 9,113
1969 72 90.3% 3,142 6,318 6,813
1968 71 85.9% 3,882 5,830 7,357

How Long Does a Honda PC50 Last?

Based on 365 Honda PC50 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
39.2 years
Median
40.5 years
Estimated max lifespan
58 years

Honda PC50 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda PC50 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
4,413 mi
75th Percentile
6,813 mi
95th Percentile
9,343 mi
Max Recorded
875,103 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda PC50

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

Best year
1976

92.0% MOT pass rate from 187 tests

Year to avoid
1972

85.5% MOT pass rate from 172 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda PC50 is 1976, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.0% across 187 tests. The 1972 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 PC50 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda PC50 THIS CAR 89.2% 1,215 4,413 mi 58 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
Jeep CJ7 78% 731 73,065 mi 48 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda PC50 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda PC50?

The Honda PC50 has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.2% across 1,215 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 PC50 are suspension assembly excessive wear or free play in a front suspension component (11 recorded failures), position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on (10), and roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. (10). 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 PC50 owner drives around 53 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 PC50 models stay on UK roads for around 58 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 PC50 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda PC50 reliable?
Based on 1,215 MOT tests, the Honda PC50 has a 89.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda PC50?
The most common MOT failures are suspension assembly excessive wear or free play in a front suspension component, position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on, and roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%.. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda PC50 do per year?
The typical Honda PC50 does around 53 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda PC50 last?
Most Honda PC50 models stay on UK roads for around 58 years based on our analysis of 365 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda PC50?
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 PC50?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda PC50 is 1976 with a 92.0% pass rate across 187 tests.