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Honda Ses 125-3 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Ses 125-3 car check

Is the Honda Ses 125-3 reliable? We analysed 4,524 real MOT tests across 487 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 4,524 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.9%
Typical Mileage
14,188mi
Annual Mileage
1,430mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
23yrs

The Honda Ses 125-3 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Ses 125-3.

Honda Ses 125-3 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda Ses 125-3. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda Ses 125-3 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda Ses 125-3 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

77.4%
2004
81.2%
2003

Honda Ses 125-3 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda Ses 125-3 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 104
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 89
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 86
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 74
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 63
Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel 62
Stop lamp remains on when the brake is released 59
Headlamp aim too high 39
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 33
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 30

Honda Ses 125-3 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda Ses 125-3 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
441 mi/yr
Typical
1,430 mi/yr
Average
2,714 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,177 mi/yr

Honda Ses 125-3 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Ses 125-3 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2004 478 77.4% 7,700 14,456 25,873
2003 4,007 81.2% 7,596 14,192 23,742

How Long Does a Honda Ses 125-3 Last?

Based on 487 Honda Ses 125-3 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.0 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
23 years

Honda Ses 125-3 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda Ses 125-3 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
14,188 mi
75th Percentile
24,070 mi
95th Percentile
44,050 mi
Max Recorded
642,941 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Ses 125-3

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

Best year
2003

81.2% MOT pass rate from 4,007 tests

Year to avoid
2004

77.4% MOT pass rate from 478 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Ses 125-3 is 2003, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 81.2% across 4,007 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 77.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Ses 125-3 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Ses 125-3 THIS CAR 80.9% 4,524 14,188 mi 23 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 SE Copa Cr TDI 84.2% 5,211 106,270 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Ses 125-3 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda Ses 125-3?

The Honda Ses 125-3 has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.9% across 4,524 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 Ses 125-3 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (104 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (89), and roller brake test indicates a binding brake (86). 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 Ses 125-3 owner drives around 1,430 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 Ses 125-3 models stay on UK roads for around 23 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 Ses 125-3 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Ses 125-3 reliable?
Based on 4,524 MOT tests, the Honda Ses 125-3 has a 80.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Ses 125-3?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Ses 125-3 do per year?
The typical Honda Ses 125-3 does around 1,430 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Ses 125-3 last?
Most Honda Ses 125-3 models stay on UK roads for around 23 years based on our analysis of 487 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Ses 125-3?
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 Ses 125-3?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Ses 125-3 is 2003 with a 81.2% pass rate across 4,007 tests.