Honda SS50 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda SS50 car check
Is the Honda SS50 reliable? We analysed 704 real MOT tests across 191 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda SS50? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda SS50 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, horn not working and steering headbearing has excessive free play. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda SS50.
Honda SS50 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda SS50. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda SS50 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda SS50 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda SS50 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda SS50 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda SS50 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda SS50 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda SS50 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda SS50 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 167 | 84.4% | 8,212 | 12,966 | 18,785 |
| 1976 | 137 | 82.5% | 7,825 | 12,101 | 19,623 |
| 1975 | 117 | 86.3% | 8,753 | 14,205 | 19,921 |
| 1974 | 64 | 90.6% | 5,441 | 20,878 | 25,708 |
| 1973 | 65 | 84.6% | 4,934 | 8,728 | 11,281 |
| 1969 | 58 | 87.9% | 8,974 | 16,725 | 22,299 |
How Long Does a Honda SS50 Last?
Based on 191 Honda SS50 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda SS50 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda SS50 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 SS50
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.6% MOT pass rate from 64 tests
82.5% MOT pass rate from 137 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda SS50 is 1974, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.6% across 64 tests. The 1976 model year has the lowest pass rate at 82.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda SS50 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda SS50 THIS CAR | 85.2% | 704 | 12,705 mi | 57 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 |
| Vauxhall Crossland Sri Nav | 89.7% | 602 | 25,852 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda SS50 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda SS50 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 SS50Should you buy a used Honda SS50?
The Honda SS50 has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.2% across 704 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 SS50 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (14 recorded failures), horn not working (13), and steering headbearing has excessive free play (10). 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 SS50 owner drives around 128 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 SS50 models stay on UK roads for around 57 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.