Honda Rebel Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda Rebel car check
Is the Honda Rebel reliable? We analysed 2,253 real MOT tests across 237 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda Rebel? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda Rebel is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include drive chain excessively loose, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Rebel.
Honda Rebel Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda Rebel. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda Rebel MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda Rebel to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda Rebel Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda Rebel fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda Rebel Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda Rebel owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda Rebel MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Rebel year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 89 | 84.3% | 4,400 | 7,913 | 13,892 |
| 2000 | 139 | 75.5% | 8,526 | 14,095 | 23,766 |
| 1999 | 75 | 84.0% | 16,769 | 19,947 | 35,677 |
| 1998 | 166 | 78.9% | 14,099 | 24,010 | 31,805 |
| 1997 | 167 | 82.0% | 5,262 | 13,514 | 26,330 |
| 1996 | 735 | 79.0% | 10,177 | 16,657 | 24,734 |
| 1995 | 357 | 74.8% | 11,691 | 19,484 | 26,126 |
| 1987 | 147 | 81.6% | 12,594 | 16,920 | 22,577 |
| 1986 | 123 | 86.2% | 10,414 | 19,590 | 22,960 |
| 1985 | 64 | 81.3% | 7,230 | 9,732 | 14,300 |
How Long Does a Honda Rebel Last?
Based on 237 Honda Rebel vehicles on UK roads.
Honda Rebel Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda Rebel 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 Rebel
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
86.2% MOT pass rate from 123 tests
74.8% MOT pass rate from 357 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda Rebel is 1986, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.2% across 123 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda Rebel Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Rebel THIS CAR | 79.5% | 2,253 | 17,345 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 |
| Nissan Note Acenta Premium DCI | 93.1% | 846 | 63,273 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Rebel sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda Rebel 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 RebelShould you buy a used Honda Rebel?
The Honda Rebel has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.5% across 2,253 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 Rebel are drive chain excessively loose (42 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (41), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (37). 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 Rebel owner drives around 541 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 Rebel 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.