Honda ST70 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda ST70 car check
Is the Honda ST70 reliable? We analysed 2,368 real MOT tests across 605 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda ST70? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda ST70 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 horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda ST70.
Honda ST70 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda ST70. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda ST70 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda ST70 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda ST70 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda ST70 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda ST70 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda ST70 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda ST70 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda ST70 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 114 | 87.7% | 4,090 | 5,828 | 7,673 |
| 1978 | 168 | 86.9% | 2,140 | 5,973 | 9,348 |
| 1977 | 225 | 88.0% | 4,976 | 8,564 | 15,358 |
| 1976 | 235 | 87.7% | 4,664 | 6,937 | 9,581 |
| 1975 | 227 | 83.3% | 3,383 | 5,783 | 9,344 |
| 1974 | 191 | 86.4% | 2,674 | 7,158 | 9,274 |
| 1973 | 366 | 85.2% | 2,573 | 5,478 | 9,643 |
| 1972 | 364 | 87.1% | 5,020 | 7,913 | 10,596 |
| 1971 | 64 | 81.3% | 968 | 3,188 | 10,446 |
How Long Does a Honda ST70 Last?
Based on 605 Honda ST70 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda ST70 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda ST70 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 ST70
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.0% MOT pass rate from 225 tests
81.3% MOT pass rate from 64 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda ST70 is 1977, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.0% across 225 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda ST70 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda ST70 THIS CAR | 85.8% | 2,368 | 6,551 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 |
| Ford Transit Custom 300 Trail Eblue | 84.3% | 3,807 | 41,583 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda ST70 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda ST70 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 ST70Should you buy a used Honda ST70?
The Honda ST70 has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.8% across 2,368 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 ST70 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (46 recorded failures), horn not working (29), and horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user (17). 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 ST70 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 ST70 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.