Honda SH50 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda SH50 car check
Is the Honda SH50 reliable? We analysed 1,523 real MOT tests across 371 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda SH50? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda SH50 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and steering headbearing has excessive free play. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda SH50.
Honda SH50 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda SH50. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda SH50 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda SH50 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda SH50 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda SH50 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda SH50 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda SH50 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda SH50 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda SH50 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 76 | 75.0% | 6,253 | 8,692 | 14,341 |
| 2002 | 186 | 75.3% | 7,669 | 13,605 | 19,564 |
| 2001 | 202 | 79.7% | 5,998 | 9,898 | 15,458 |
| 2000 | 160 | 76.9% | 6,142 | 11,015 | 16,664 |
| 1999 | 120 | 79.2% | 7,852 | 10,247 | 16,659 |
| 1998 | 120 | 77.5% | 7,847 | 12,418 | 21,772 |
| 1997 | 100 | 79.0% | 4,953 | 11,572 | 20,523 |
| 1996 | 156 | 79.5% | 9,776 | 13,308 | 17,480 |
| 1995 | 171 | 80.7% | 7,156 | 10,750 | 13,433 |
| 1994 | 107 | 77.6% | 10,119 | 16,044 | 22,389 |
| 1993 | 71 | 85.9% | 7,032 | 15,753 | 20,165 |
How Long Does a Honda SH50 Last?
Based on 371 Honda SH50 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda SH50 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda SH50 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 SH50
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
85.9% MOT pass rate from 71 tests
75.0% MOT pass rate from 76 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda SH50 is 1993, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.9% across 71 tests. The 2003 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda SH50 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda SH50 THIS CAR | 78.8% | 1,523 | 11,650 mi | 33 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 |
| Vulcan Custom | 68% | 1,299 | 6,701 mi | 23 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda SH50 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda SH50 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 SH50Should you buy a used Honda SH50?
The Honda SH50 has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.8% across 1,523 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 SH50 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (45 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (23), and steering headbearing has excessive free play (22). 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 SH50 owner drives around 482 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 SH50 models stay on UK roads for around 33 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.