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Honda VFR800 Fi Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda VFR800 Fi car check

Is the Honda VFR800 Fi reliable? We analysed 104,414 real MOT tests across 7,693 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 104,414 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.1%
Typical Mileage
26,894mi
Annual Mileage
911mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Honda VFR800 Fi is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda VFR800 Fi.

Honda VFR800 Fi Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda VFR800 Fi. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda VFR800 Fi MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda VFR800 Fi to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

92.2%
2008
90.2%
2006
87.5%
2003
88%
2002
89.1%
2001
88.1%
2000
88.4%
1999
87.4%
1998
86.7%
1997

Honda VFR800 Fi Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda VFR800 Fi 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 1,468
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 735
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised 589
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 545
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 419
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 398
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 293
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the weight on the lower bearing 262

Honda VFR800 Fi Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Honda VFR800 Fi models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 265

Honda VFR800 Fi Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda VFR800 Fi owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
293 mi/yr
Typical
911 mi/yr
Average
1,690 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,155 mi/yr

Honda VFR800 Fi MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda VFR800 Fi year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 115 92.2% 9,634 16,272 23,781
2006 122 90.2% 10,473 15,321 30,450
2003 554 87.5% 12,149 18,101 26,450
2002 5,025 88.0% 14,554 22,982 34,414
2001 16,368 89.1% 15,511 24,426 36,420
2000 25,719 88.1% 17,160 26,330 38,830
1999 25,018 88.4% 17,767 27,250 38,733
1998 29,430 87.4% 19,473 29,099 41,067
1997 1,507 86.7% 20,972 31,147 39,914

How Long Does a Honda VFR800 Fi Last?

Based on 7,693 Honda VFR800 Fi vehicles on UK roads.

Average
20.2 years
Median
22.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Honda VFR800 Fi Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda VFR800 Fi MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
26,894 mi
75th Percentile
38,869 mi
95th Percentile
62,940 mi
Max Recorded
779,219 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda VFR800 Fi

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

Best year
2008

92.2% MOT pass rate from 115 tests

Year to avoid
1997

86.7% MOT pass rate from 1,507 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda VFR800 Fi is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.2% across 115 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda VFR800 Fi Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda VFR800 Fi THIS CAR 88.1% 104,414 26,894 mi 29 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
Jeep Cherokee 79.5% 73,214 61,010 mi 27 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda VFR800 Fi outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda VFR800 Fi?

The Honda VFR800 Fi has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.1% across 104,414 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 VFR800 Fi are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (1,468 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (735), and steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised (589). 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 VFR800 Fi 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 VFR800 Fi owner drives around 911 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 VFR800 Fi models stay on UK roads for around 29 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 VFR800 Fi — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda VFR800 Fi reliable?
Based on 104,414 MOT tests, the Honda VFR800 Fi has a 88.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda VFR800 Fi?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda VFR800 Fi do per year?
The typical Honda VFR800 Fi does around 911 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda VFR800 Fi last?
Most Honda VFR800 Fi models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 7,693 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda VFR800 Fi?
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 VFR800 Fi?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda VFR800 Fi is 2008 with a 92.2% pass rate across 115 tests.