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Honda SES125 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda SES125 car check

Is the Honda SES125 reliable? We analysed 38,216 real MOT tests across 4,396 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 38,216 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
79.7%
Typical Mileage
15,701mi
Annual Mileage
1,703mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
24yrs

The Honda SES125 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda SES125.

Honda SES125 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda SES125. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda SES125 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda SES125 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

78.9%
2008
80.2%
2007
79.4%
2006
79.2%
2005
79.9%
2004
80.1%
2003
79.9%
2002

Honda SES125 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda SES125 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 948
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 704
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 678
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 655
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 648
Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel 541
Stop lamp remains on when the brake is released 498
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 311
Headlamp aim too high 300
shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 277

Honda SES125 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda SES125 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
556 mi/yr
Typical
1,703 mi/yr
Average
3,028 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,671 mi/yr

Honda SES125 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda SES125 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 57 78.9% 15,996 23,441 39,658
2007 3,680 80.2% 8,435 16,250 26,652
2006 6,863 79.4% 9,029 16,868 28,242
2005 9,958 79.2% 8,479 15,609 26,033
2004 10,551 79.9% 8,474 15,458 25,546
2003 5,098 80.1% 8,181 14,879 24,582
2002 1,926 79.9% 8,829 15,011 25,183

How Long Does a Honda SES125 Last?

Based on 4,396 Honda SES125 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.3 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
24 years

Honda SES125 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda SES125 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
15,701 mi
75th Percentile
26,033 mi
95th Percentile
49,218 mi
Max Recorded
536,805 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda SES125

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

Best year
2007

80.2% MOT pass rate from 3,680 tests

Year to avoid
2008

78.9% MOT pass rate from 57 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda SES125 is 2007, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.2% across 3,680 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 78.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda SES125 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda SES125 THIS CAR 79.7% 38,216 15,701 mi 24 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
Yamaha TDM850 85% 22,526 28,008 mi 35 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda SES125 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda SES125?

The Honda SES125 has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.7% across 38,216 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 SES125 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (948 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (704), and roller brake test indicates a binding brake (678). 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 SES125 owner drives around 1,703 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 SES125 models stay on UK roads for around 24 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 SES125 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda SES125 reliable?
Based on 38,216 MOT tests, the Honda SES125 has a 79.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda SES125?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda SES125 do per year?
The typical Honda SES125 does around 1,703 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda SES125 last?
Most Honda SES125 models stay on UK roads for around 24 years based on our analysis of 4,396 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda SES125?
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 SES125?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda SES125 is 2007 with a 80.2% pass rate across 3,680 tests.