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Honda ST50-K Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda ST50-K car check

Is the Honda ST50-K reliable? We analysed 643 real MOT tests across 109 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 643 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
92.4%
Typical Mileage
3,140mi
Annual Mileage
58mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
36yrs

The Honda ST50-K is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp, drive chain excessively loose and stop lamp affected by the operation of another lamp. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda ST50-K.

Honda ST50-K Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda ST50-K. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda ST50-K MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda ST50-K to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

98.6%
1994
95.9%
1993
84.8%
1992
91.9%
1990

Honda ST50-K Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda ST50-K fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp 3
Drive chain excessively loose 2
Stop lamp affected by the operation of another lamp 2
Drive chain sprocket worn to excess 2
Direction indicator deteriorated and function impaired 2
Registration plate incorrect 2
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 2
Direction indicators not working 2
Tyre has a tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 2
Direction indicator not working 1

Honda ST50-K Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda ST50-K owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
17 mi/yr
Typical
58 mi/yr
Average
211 mi/yr
Heavy usage
197 mi/yr

Honda ST50-K MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda ST50-K year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1994 144 98.6% 1,320 4,656 7,798
1993 148 95.9% 1,542 3,169 5,157
1992 191 84.8% 780 2,425 7,808
1990 62 91.9% 1,959 4,642 10,764

How Long Does a Honda ST50-K Last?

Based on 109 Honda ST50-K vehicles on UK roads.

Average
23.5 years
Median
23.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
36 years

Honda ST50-K Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda ST50-K MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
3,140 mi
75th Percentile
7,454 mi
95th Percentile
16,504 mi
Max Recorded
27,708 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda ST50-K

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

Best year
1994

98.6% MOT pass rate from 144 tests

Year to avoid
1992

84.8% MOT pass rate from 191 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda ST50-K is 1994, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 98.6% across 144 tests. The 1992 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda ST50-K Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda ST50-K THIS CAR 92.4% 643 3,140 mi 36 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
Mercedes-benz C220 Executive SE CDI Bluecy A 83.3% 1,223 86,118 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda ST50-K outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda ST50-K 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 ST50-K?

The Honda ST50-K has an overall MOT pass rate of 92.4% across 643 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-K are direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp (3 recorded failures), drive chain excessively loose (2), and stop lamp affected by the operation of another lamp (2). 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-K owner drives around 58 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-K models stay on UK roads for around 36 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 ST50-K — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda ST50-K reliable?
Based on 643 MOT tests, the Honda ST50-K has a 92.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda ST50-K?
The most common MOT failures are direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp, drive chain excessively loose, and stop lamp affected by the operation of another lamp. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda ST50-K do per year?
The typical Honda ST50-K does around 58 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda ST50-K last?
Most Honda ST50-K models stay on UK roads for around 36 years based on our analysis of 109 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda ST50-K?
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 ST50-K?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda ST50-K is 1994 with a 98.6% pass rate across 144 tests.