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Honda TL125 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda TL125 car check

Is the Honda TL125 reliable? We analysed 514 real MOT tests across 119 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 514 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.8%
Typical Mileage
7,092mi
Annual Mileage
115mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
51yrs

The Honda TL125 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, throttle operating incorrectly and horn not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda TL125.

Honda TL125 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda TL125. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda TL125 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda TL125 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

86.2%
1978
84.6%
1977
84.1%
1976
94.6%
1975

Honda TL125 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda TL125 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 6
Throttle operating incorrectly 4
Horn not working 3
wheel spindle securing nut locking device missing 3
Tyre is unsuitable 3
reflector on motorcycle missing 3
wheel spindle securing nut locking device missing 2
Wheel spoke excessively loose 2
Riders seat insecure 1

Honda TL125 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda TL125 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
30 mi/yr
Typical
115 mi/yr
Average
336 mi/yr
Heavy usage
328 mi/yr

Honda TL125 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda TL125 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1978 58 86.2% 2,810 9,053 17,533
1977 117 84.6% 5,935 8,179 13,374
1976 113 84.1% 3,700 8,751 11,381
1975 92 94.6% 3,813 6,284 8,894

How Long Does a Honda TL125 Last?

Based on 119 Honda TL125 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
30.4 years
Median
34.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
51 years

Honda TL125 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda TL125 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
7,092 mi
75th Percentile
11,393 mi
95th Percentile
23,233 mi
Max Recorded
232,471 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda TL125

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

Best year
1975

94.6% MOT pass rate from 92 tests

Year to avoid
1976

84.1% MOT pass rate from 113 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda TL125 is 1975, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.6% across 92 tests. The 1976 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda TL125 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda TL125 THIS CAR 86.8% 514 7,092 mi 51 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 Astra Gs Turbo 90% 723 21,825 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda TL125 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda TL125 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 TL125?

The Honda TL125 has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.8% across 514 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 TL125 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (6 recorded failures), throttle operating incorrectly (4), and horn not working (3). 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 TL125 owner drives around 115 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 TL125 models stay on UK roads for around 51 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 TL125 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda TL125 reliable?
Based on 514 MOT tests, the Honda TL125 has a 86.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda TL125?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, throttle operating incorrectly, and horn not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda TL125 do per year?
The typical Honda TL125 does around 115 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda TL125 last?
Most Honda TL125 models stay on UK roads for around 51 years based on our analysis of 119 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda TL125?
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 TL125?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda TL125 is 1975 with a 94.6% pass rate across 92 tests.