CarVerify

Honda VFR800A Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda VFR800A car check

Is the Honda VFR800A reliable? We analysed 17,952 real MOT tests across 1,394 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Honda VFR800A? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 17,952 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
87.9%
Typical Mileage
18,904mi
Annual Mileage
1,065mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
24yrs

The Honda VFR800A 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 shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda VFR800A.

Honda VFR800A Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda VFR800A. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda VFR800A MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda VFR800A to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

89.4%
2012
90.7%
2011
89.5%
2010
89.7%
2009
88.2%
2008
87.5%
2007
88%
2006
87%
2005
86%
2004
86.8%
2003
89.4%
2002
93.5%
2000

Honda VFR800A Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda VFR800A 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 237
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 101
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 100
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 70

Honda VFR800A Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Honda VFR800A models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 84
Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 58

Honda VFR800A Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda VFR800A owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
366 mi/yr
Typical
1,065 mi/yr
Average
1,850 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,425 mi/yr

Honda VFR800A MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda VFR800A year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 142 89.4% 5,453 8,794 20,424
2011 611 90.7% 9,824 15,992 28,038
2010 754 89.5% 8,361 15,014 23,275
2009 1,714 89.7% 9,476 16,721 26,800
2008 2,120 88.2% 10,681 18,044 27,825
2007 2,378 87.5% 11,958 19,111 29,614
2006 2,865 88.0% 9,540 16,937 26,926
2005 123 87.0% 13,898 24,406 33,956
2004 857 86.0% 12,488 20,268 32,107
2003 5,704 86.8% 12,725 21,460 32,423
2002 443 89.4% 10,025 17,512 25,353
2000 93 93.5% 8,116 17,071 32,327

How Long Does a Honda VFR800A Last?

Based on 1,394 Honda VFR800A vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.1 years
Median
16.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
24 years

Honda VFR800A Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda VFR800A MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
18,904 mi
75th Percentile
29,455 mi
95th Percentile
49,660 mi
Max Recorded
508,503 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda VFR800A

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

Best year
2000

93.5% MOT pass rate from 93 tests

Year to avoid
2004

86.0% MOT pass rate from 857 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda VFR800A is 2000, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.5% across 93 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda VFR800A Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda VFR800A THIS CAR 87.9% 17,952 18,904 mi 24 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
Mercedes-benz Sprinter 315 Premium CDI 80.4% 6,478 57,311 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda VFR800A outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda VFR800A 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 VFR800A

Should you buy a used Honda VFR800A?

The Honda VFR800A has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.9% across 17,952 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 VFR800A are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (237 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (101), and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (100). 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 VFR800A 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 VFR800A owner drives around 1,065 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 VFR800A models stay on UK roads for around 24 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 VFR800A — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda VFR800A reliable?
Based on 17,952 MOT tests, the Honda VFR800A has a 87.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda VFR800A?
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 shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda VFR800A do per year?
The typical Honda VFR800A does around 1,065 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda VFR800A last?
Most Honda VFR800A models stay on UK roads for around 24 years based on our analysis of 1,394 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda VFR800A?
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 VFR800A?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda VFR800A is 2000 with a 93.5% pass rate across 93 tests.