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Honda SH300 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda SH300 car check

Is the Honda SH300 reliable? We analysed 2,388 real MOT tests across 230 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,388 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
90.0%
Typical Mileage
14,415mi
Annual Mileage
1,064mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
19yrs

The Honda SH300 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda SH300.

Honda SH300 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda SH300. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda SH300 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda SH300 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

87.9%
2012
88.1%
2011
90.2%
2010
93.5%
2009
89.4%
2008
89.5%
2007

Honda SH300 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda SH300 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 29
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 20
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 14
Brake pad(s) (sintered type) less than 1.0mm thick 11
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 7
Tyre has a tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 5
Brake disc(s) excessively worn 5

Honda SH300 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Honda SH300 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 7
Valve stem seriously damaged 5

Honda SH300 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda SH300 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
297 mi/yr
Typical
1,064 mi/yr
Average
1,932 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,628 mi/yr

Honda SH300 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda SH300 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 149 87.9% 7,982 10,957 17,705
2011 252 88.1% 9,062 13,007 18,818
2010 377 90.2% 7,733 14,562 22,185
2009 462 93.5% 5,713 11,135 22,414
2008 565 89.4% 9,894 16,519 25,238
2007 551 89.5% 9,238 15,103 22,703

How Long Does a Honda SH300 Last?

Based on 230 Honda SH300 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.9 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
19 years

Honda SH300 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda SH300 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
14,415 mi
75th Percentile
22,634 mi
95th Percentile
44,386 mi
Max Recorded
94,002 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda SH300

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

Best year
2009

93.5% MOT pass rate from 462 tests

Year to avoid
2012

87.9% MOT pass rate from 149 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda SH300 is 2009, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.5% across 462 tests. The 2012 model year has the lowest pass rate at 87.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda SH300 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda SH300 THIS CAR 90.0% 2,388 14,415 mi 19 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
Mercedes-benz 410 D 68.2% 3,521 164,003 mi 37 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda SH300 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda SH300 you like?

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Should you buy a used Honda SH300?

The Honda SH300 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.0% across 2,388 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 SH300 are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (29 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (20), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (14). 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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda SH300 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Honda SH300 owner drives around 1,064 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 SH300 models stay on UK roads for around 19 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 SH300 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda SH300 reliable?
Based on 2,388 MOT tests, the Honda SH300 has a 90.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda SH300?
The most common MOT failures are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda SH300 do per year?
The typical Honda SH300 does around 1,064 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda SH300 last?
Most Honda SH300 models stay on UK roads for around 19 years based on our analysis of 230 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda SH300?
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 SH300?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda SH300 is 2009 with a 93.5% pass rate across 462 tests.