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Honda Vfr 400 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Vfr 400 car check

Is the Honda Vfr 400 reliable? We analysed 1,739 real MOT tests across 232 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,739 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
79.3%
Typical Mileage
35,876mi
Annual Mileage
494mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
37yrs

The Honda Vfr 400 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include reflector on motorcycle missing, roller brake test indicates a binding brake and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Vfr 400.

Honda Vfr 400 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda Vfr 400. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda Vfr 400 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda Vfr 400 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

72.6%
2001
78.5%
2000
79.4%
1999
80.7%
1998
80.9%
1997
74.6%
1996
78.4%
1995
86.7%
1994
70.7%
1993
79%
1992
83.5%
1990
83.9%
1989

Honda Vfr 400 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda Vfr 400 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

reflector on motorcycle missing 30
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 29
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 29
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 28
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 27
Headlamp aim too high 18
Headlamp aim too low 18
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 16
Roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 14
Drive chain excessively tight 14

Honda Vfr 400 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda Vfr 400 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
147 mi/yr
Typical
494 mi/yr
Average
1,188 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,503 mi/yr

Honda Vfr 400 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Vfr 400 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2001 73 72.6% 26,718 32,000 39,483
2000 107 78.5% 28,628 37,921 42,773
1999 204 79.4% 15,950 30,011 35,104
1998 207 80.7% 22,732 30,435 42,210
1997 209 80.9% 27,867 37,606 45,063
1996 244 74.6% 33,387 44,046 57,503
1995 125 78.4% 30,199 39,101 49,338
1994 83 86.7% 31,806 39,932 48,812
1993 75 70.7% 28,884 38,366 66,446
1992 105 79.0% 24,838 37,420 42,826
1990 85 83.5% 28,814 38,352 48,276
1989 93 83.9% 27,742 32,608 45,040

How Long Does a Honda Vfr 400 Last?

Based on 232 Honda Vfr 400 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
19.6 years
Median
20.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
37 years

Honda Vfr 400 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda Vfr 400 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
35,876 mi
75th Percentile
45,952 mi
95th Percentile
72,027 mi
Max Recorded
226,701 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Vfr 400

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

Best year
1994

86.7% MOT pass rate from 83 tests

Year to avoid
1993

70.7% MOT pass rate from 75 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Vfr 400 is 1994, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.7% across 83 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.7% — 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 400 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Vfr 400 THIS CAR 79.3% 1,739 35,876 mi 37 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
Yamaha Mt - 09 90.4% 1,359 10,559 mi 13 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Vfr 400 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda Vfr 400?

The Honda Vfr 400 has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.3% across 1,739 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 400 are reflector on motorcycle missing (30 recorded failures), roller brake test indicates a binding brake (29), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (29). 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 Vfr 400 owner drives around 494 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 400 models stay on UK roads for around 37 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 400 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Vfr 400 reliable?
Based on 1,739 MOT tests, the Honda Vfr 400 has a 79.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Vfr 400?
The most common MOT failures are reflector on motorcycle missing, roller brake test indicates a binding brake, and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Vfr 400 do per year?
The typical Honda Vfr 400 does around 494 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Vfr 400 last?
Most Honda Vfr 400 models stay on UK roads for around 37 years based on our analysis of 232 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Vfr 400?
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 400?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Vfr 400 is 1994 with a 86.7% pass rate across 83 tests.