Honda ST50 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda ST50 car check
Is the Honda ST50 reliable? We analysed 421 real MOT tests across 114 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda ST50? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda ST50 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include horn not working, wheel spindle securing nut locking device missing and stop lamp affected by the operation of another lamp. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda ST50.
Honda ST50 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda ST50. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda ST50 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda ST50 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda ST50 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda ST50 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda ST50 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda ST50 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda ST50 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda ST50 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 113 | 89.4% | 3,843 | 7,714 | 12,232 |
How Long Does a Honda ST50 Last?
Based on 114 Honda ST50 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda ST50 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda ST50 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 ST50
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.4% MOT pass rate from 113 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda ST50 is 1971, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.4% across 113 tests.
How Does the Honda ST50 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda ST50 THIS CAR | 87.6% | 421 | 5,123 mi | 55 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 |
| Audi A5 Sln Blk ED 45TFSI MHEV Q Sa | 93% | 229 | 24,179 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda ST50 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda ST50 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 ST50Should you buy a used Honda ST50?
The Honda ST50 has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.6% across 421 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 ST50 are horn not working (6 recorded failures), wheel spindle securing nut locking device missing (4), and stop lamp affected by the operation of another lamp (4). 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 ST50 owner drives around 49 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 ST50 models stay on UK roads for around 55 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.