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Honda SJ100 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda SJ100 car check

Is the Honda SJ100 reliable? We analysed 1,356 real MOT tests across 238 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,356 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
79.4%
Typical Mileage
11,861mi
Annual Mileage
577mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
30yrs

The Honda SJ100 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 brake lever has inadequate reserve travel. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda SJ100.

Honda SJ100 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda SJ100. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda SJ100 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda SJ100 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

78.3%
1999
77.9%
1998
80.7%
1997
82.5%
1996

Honda SJ100 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda SJ100 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 69
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 27
Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel 23
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 18
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 18
Headlamp aim too high 18
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 16
shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 16
Direction indicators not working 15
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 10

Honda SJ100 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda SJ100 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
149 mi/yr
Typical
577 mi/yr
Average
1,215 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,528 mi/yr

Honda SJ100 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda SJ100 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1999 420 78.3% 7,441 10,724 14,803
1998 281 77.9% 9,641 17,020 23,328
1997 389 80.7% 7,956 11,551 17,742
1996 211 82.5% 9,038 13,100 21,137

How Long Does a Honda SJ100 Last?

Based on 238 Honda SJ100 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.6 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
30 years

Honda SJ100 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda SJ100 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
11,861 mi
75th Percentile
18,465 mi
95th Percentile
30,158 mi
Max Recorded
256,657 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda SJ100

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

Best year
1996

82.5% MOT pass rate from 211 tests

Year to avoid
1998

77.9% MOT pass rate from 281 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda SJ100 is 1996, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.5% across 211 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 77.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda SJ100 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda SJ100 THIS CAR 79.4% 1,356 11,861 mi 30 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
Suzuki Splash Gls 77.3% 1,097 64,836 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda SJ100 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda SJ100 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.

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Should you buy a used Honda SJ100?

The Honda SJ100 has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.4% across 1,356 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 SJ100 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (69 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (27), and brake lever has inadequate reserve travel (23). 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 SJ100 owner drives around 577 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 SJ100 models stay on UK roads for around 30 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 SJ100 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda SJ100 reliable?
Based on 1,356 MOT tests, the Honda SJ100 has a 79.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda SJ100?
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 brake lever has inadequate reserve travel. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda SJ100 do per year?
The typical Honda SJ100 does around 577 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda SJ100 last?
Most Honda SJ100 models stay on UK roads for around 30 years based on our analysis of 238 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda SJ100?
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 SJ100?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda SJ100 is 1996 with a 82.5% pass rate across 211 tests.