Honda SJ50 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda SJ50 car check
Is the Honda SJ50 reliable? We analysed 2,227 real MOT tests across 377 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda SJ50? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda SJ50 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, tyre tread not clearly visible and headlamp aim too high. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda SJ50.
Honda SJ50 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda SJ50. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda SJ50 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda SJ50 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda SJ50 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda SJ50 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda SJ50 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda SJ50 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda SJ50 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda SJ50 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 149 | 86.6% | 6,607 | 9,172 | 14,128 |
| 1999 | 352 | 81.5% | 6,598 | 9,931 | 15,318 |
| 1998 | 389 | 79.9% | 7,514 | 11,205 | 17,315 |
| 1997 | 589 | 82.3% | 7,592 | 10,514 | 16,340 |
| 1996 | 374 | 81.6% | 8,147 | 12,910 | 16,737 |
| 1995 | 152 | 76.3% | 10,578 | 13,052 | 15,828 |
| 1994 | 106 | 82.1% | 8,876 | 12,526 | 19,486 |
| 1993 | 83 | 83.1% | 9,212 | 12,546 | 14,404 |
How Long Does a Honda SJ50 Last?
Based on 377 Honda SJ50 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda SJ50 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda SJ50 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 SJ50
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
86.6% MOT pass rate from 149 tests
76.3% MOT pass rate from 152 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda SJ50 is 2000, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.6% across 149 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 76.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda SJ50 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda SJ50 THIS CAR | 81.2% | 2,227 | 11,415 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 |
| Fiat Punto 60 1.7 Td | 60.7% | 740 | 91,657 mi | 29 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda SJ50 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda SJ50 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 SJ50Should you buy a used Honda SJ50?
The Honda SJ50 has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.2% across 2,227 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 SJ50 are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (47 recorded failures), tyre tread not clearly visible (40), and headlamp aim too high (34). 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 SJ50 owner drives around 456 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 SJ50 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.