CarVerify

Honda Trike Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Trike car check

Is the Honda Trike reliable? We analysed 3,482 real MOT tests across 329 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Honda Trike? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 3,482 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
83.4%
Typical Mileage
37,163mi
Annual Mileage
584mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
49yrs

The Honda Trike is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp not working, brake recording little or no effort and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Trike.

Honda Trike Number Plates

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

Honda Trike MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

82.7%
2011
86.5%
2009
92.5%
2007
75.7%
2004
84%
2003
87.7%
2002
86.2%
2001
84.1%
2000
82.6%
1999
77.3%
1998
82.9%
1997
71.1%
1996
81.8%
1995
78.9%
1994
82.8%
1993
86.4%
1992
86.2%
1991
87.1%
1990
87.6%
1989
88.6%
1988

Honda Trike Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Stop lamp not working 45
brake recording little or no effort 39
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 38
parking brake recording little or no effort 32
reflector missing 29
position lamp(s) not working 27
brake binding 19
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 17

Honda Trike Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Honda Trike models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value 23

Honda Trike Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
162 mi/yr
Typical
584 mi/yr
Average
1,660 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,520 mi/yr

Honda Trike MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2011 52 82.7% 10,475 17,235 79,051
2009 111 86.5% 6,746 13,168 20,307
2007 80 92.5% 14,643 21,366 40,073
2004 74 75.7% 6,989 14,645 25,875
2003 100 84.0% 13,194 21,781 58,746
2002 81 87.7% 22,483 25,397 46,053
2001 123 86.2% 8,547 17,764 51,827
2000 82 84.1% 15,410 28,504 40,891
1999 149 82.6% 14,386 29,561 41,401
1998 66 77.3% 11,592 14,614 24,042
1997 82 82.9% 13,002 30,744 38,450
1996 76 71.1% 33,999 48,093 74,918
1995 77 81.8% 43,728 63,163 78,626
1994 152 78.9% 22,651 32,270 55,896
1993 58 82.8% 67,263 77,448 88,255
1992 213 86.4% 41,600 62,401 72,335
1991 58 86.2% 28,986 52,962 60,045
1990 93 87.1% 31,271 40,511 48,815
1989 105 87.6% 42,656 54,445 60,353
1988 79 88.6% 23,894 56,640 62,934

How Long Does a Honda Trike Last?

Based on 329 Honda Trike vehicles on UK roads.

Average
28.0 years
Median
29.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
49 years

Honda Trike Mileage Distribution

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

Median
37,163 mi
75th Percentile
56,956 mi
95th Percentile
79,951 mi
Max Recorded
618,522 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Trike

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

Best year
2007

92.5% MOT pass rate from 80 tests

Year to avoid
1996

71.1% MOT pass rate from 76 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Trike is 2007, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.5% across 80 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Trike Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Trike THIS CAR 83.4% 3,482 37,163 mi 49 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
Kawasaki ZX9 82.1% 1,322 28,929 mi 32 yrs

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

Found a Honda Trike 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 Trike

Should you buy a used Honda Trike?

The Honda Trike has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.4% across 3,482 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 Trike are stop lamp not working (45 recorded failures), brake recording little or no effort (39), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (38). 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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda Trike with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Honda Trike owner drives around 584 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 Trike models stay on UK roads for around 49 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 Trike — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Trike reliable?
Based on 3,482 MOT tests, the Honda Trike has a 83.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Trike?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp not working, brake recording little or no effort, and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Trike do per year?
The typical Honda Trike does around 584 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Trike last?
Most Honda Trike models stay on UK roads for around 49 years based on our analysis of 329 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Trike?
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 Trike?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Trike is 2007 with a 92.5% pass rate across 80 tests.