Honda VFR1200 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda VFR1200 car check
Is the Honda VFR1200 reliable? We analysed 1,956 real MOT tests across 200 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda VFR1200? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda VFR1200 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 brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda VFR1200.
Honda VFR1200 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda VFR1200. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda VFR1200 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda VFR1200 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda VFR1200 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda VFR1200 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda VFR1200 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Honda VFR1200 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Honda VFR1200 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda VFR1200 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda VFR1200 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda VFR1200 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 348 | 90.5% | 13,750 | 20,028 | 29,886 |
| 2011 | 336 | 89.9% | 11,316 | 18,525 | 25,104 |
| 2010 | 1,187 | 90.6% | 9,970 | 17,242 | 26,320 |
How Long Does a Honda VFR1200 Last?
Based on 200 Honda VFR1200 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda VFR1200 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda VFR1200 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Honda VFR1200
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.6% MOT pass rate from 1,187 tests
89.9% MOT pass rate from 336 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda VFR1200 is 2010, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.6% across 1,187 tests. The 2011 model year has the lowest pass rate at 89.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda VFR1200 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda VFR1200 THIS CAR | 90.5% | 1,956 | 17,836 mi | 16 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 |
| Suzuki Gw 250 L3 | 88% | 3,654 | 10,680 mi | 14 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda VFR1200 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda VFR1200 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 VFR1200Should you buy a used Honda VFR1200?
The Honda VFR1200 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.5% across 1,956 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 VFR1200 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (16 recorded failures), roller brake test indicates a binding brake (10), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (6). 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 brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda VFR1200 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 VFR1200 owner drives around 1,290 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 VFR1200 models stay on UK roads for around 16 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.