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Honda Unknown Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Honda Unknown reliable? We analysed 19,752 real MOT tests across 9,916 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 19,752 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
84.8%
Typical Mileage
18,323mi
Annual Mileage
395mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
62yrs

The Honda Unknown is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Unknown.

Honda Unknown Number Plates

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

Honda Unknown MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

90.9%
2022
88.5%
2021
87.8%
2020
85.3%
2019
85.2%
2018
86%
2017
86.2%
2016
85%
2015
84.2%
2014
85.3%
2013
85.1%
2012
86.7%
2011
85.8%
2010
86.5%
2009
83.7%
2008
82.4%
2007
86.2%
2006
82.8%
2005
79.4%
2004
84.7%
2003

Honda Unknown Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 50
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 45

Honda Unknown Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
98 mi/yr
Typical
395 mi/yr
Average
1,938 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,549 mi/yr

Honda Unknown MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 77 90.9% 561 1,511 4,944
2021 235 88.5% 1,441 3,176 17,014
2020 335 87.8% 2,103 13,014 38,302
2019 443 85.3% 5,058 15,329 68,070
2018 486 85.2% 3,022 14,645 106,501
2017 673 86.0% 5,397 31,795 112,208
2016 580 86.2% 5,969 25,835 87,512
2015 560 85.0% 6,458 15,514 57,553
2014 419 84.2% 923 7,430 59,150
2013 341 85.3% 1,077 10,502 53,967
2012 208 85.1% 18,416 71,271 110,393
2011 166 86.7% 32,286 91,355 114,037
2010 176 85.8% 60,136 88,025 121,225
2009 178 86.5% 21,089 71,040 97,021
2008 289 83.7% 38,822 100,219 136,218
2007 148 82.4% 51,637 102,450 146,125
2006 174 86.2% 18,811 59,415 127,332
2005 209 82.8% 13,996 93,927 139,324
2004 281 79.4% 9,406 33,542 100,458
2003 150 84.7% 12,735 24,514 57,330

How Long Does a Honda Unknown Last?

Based on 9,916 Honda Unknown vehicles on UK roads.

Average
30.2 years
Median
37.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
62 years

Honda Unknown Mileage Distribution

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

Median
18,323 mi
75th Percentile
36,769 mi
95th Percentile
128,699 mi
Max Recorded
503,215 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Unknown

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

Best year
1964

95.6% MOT pass rate from 68 tests

Year to avoid
2004

79.4% MOT pass rate from 281 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Unknown is 1964, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.6% across 68 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Unknown Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Unknown THIS CAR 84.8% 19,752 18,323 mi 62 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
Alfa Romeo Stelvio 89% 15,641 39,044 mi — yrs

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

Found a Honda Unknown 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 Unknown?

The Honda Unknown has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.8% across 19,752 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common failure point is stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies with 50 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.

A typical Honda Unknown owner drives around 395 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 Unknown models stay on UK roads for around 62 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 Unknown — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Unknown reliable?
Based on 19,752 MOT tests, the Honda Unknown has a 84.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Unknown?
The most common failure point is stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies.
How many miles does a Honda Unknown do per year?
The typical Honda Unknown does around 395 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Unknown last?
Most Honda Unknown models stay on UK roads for around 62 years based on our analysis of 9,916 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Unknown?
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 Unknown?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Unknown is 1964 with a 95.6% pass rate across 68 tests.