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Honda Vfr Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Vfr car check

Is the Honda Vfr reliable? We analysed 41,575 real MOT tests across 5,815 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 41,575 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
90.9%
Typical Mileage
17,752mi
Annual Mileage
1,191mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
35yrs

The Honda Vfr is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, roller brake test indicates a binding brake and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Vfr.

Honda Vfr Number Plates

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

Honda Vfr MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

95.6%
2021
94.9%
2020
95.1%
2019
94.3%
2018
94.9%
2017
94.5%
2016
93.8%
2015
92.4%
2014
91.2%
2013
90.3%
2012
86.6%
2011
92.3%
2010
88.3%
2009
84%
2008
87.7%
2007
82.1%
2006
83.5%
2004
81.6%
2003
85.6%
2002
86.6%
2001

Honda Vfr Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 222
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 161
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 123
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 120
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 105
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 73

Honda Vfr Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 235
Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 228

Honda Vfr Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
420 mi/yr
Typical
1,191 mi/yr
Average
2,025 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,652 mi/yr

Honda Vfr MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2021 227 95.6% 4,118 7,837 14,309
2020 936 94.9% 5,244 8,907 14,241
2019 1,687 95.1% 4,743 8,372 14,020
2018 1,978 94.3% 5,862 10,466 17,188
2017 3,188 94.9% 7,000 11,596 18,337
2016 4,365 94.5% 7,974 12,718 19,998
2015 6,708 93.8% 8,332 13,892 21,649
2014 5,979 92.4% 8,865 15,014 23,565
2013 817 91.2% 10,644 17,974 27,913
2012 227 90.3% 8,832 16,729 27,872
2011 305 86.6% 9,610 18,541 29,803
2010 338 92.3% 10,819 18,834 27,501
2009 60 88.3% 7,762 8,916 13,564
2008 206 84.0% 9,903 15,650 31,332
2007 155 87.7% 11,375 18,590 28,352
2006 95 82.1% 6,748 15,322 26,880
2004 133 83.5% 9,786 19,026 24,563
2003 293 81.6% 9,321 18,897 33,164
2002 610 85.6% 13,419 20,868 33,792
2001 397 86.6% 13,001 26,480 32,628

How Long Does a Honda Vfr Last?

Based on 5,815 Honda Vfr vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.9 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
35 years

Honda Vfr Mileage Distribution

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

Median
17,752 mi
75th Percentile
30,950 mi
95th Percentile
56,719 mi
Max Recorded
700,020 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Vfr

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

Best year
2021

95.6% MOT pass rate from 227 tests

Year to avoid
1987

75.0% MOT pass rate from 132 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Vfr is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.6% across 227 tests. The 1987 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Vfr Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Vfr THIS CAR 90.9% 41,575 17,752 mi 35 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
Levc Tx Vista Comfort Plus 90.3% 16,955 83,803 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Honda Vfr?

The Honda Vfr has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.9% across 41,575 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 Vfr are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (222 recorded failures), roller brake test indicates a binding brake (161), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (123). 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 tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda Vfr 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 Vfr owner drives around 1,191 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 Vfr models stay on UK roads for around 35 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 Vfr — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Vfr reliable?
Based on 41,575 MOT tests, the Honda Vfr has a 90.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Vfr?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, roller brake test indicates a binding brake, and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Vfr do per year?
The typical Honda Vfr does around 1,191 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Vfr last?
Most Honda Vfr models stay on UK roads for around 35 years based on our analysis of 5,815 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Vfr?
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 Vfr?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Vfr is 2021 with a 95.6% pass rate across 227 tests.