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Honda XL 125 V-9 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda XL 125 V-9 car check

Is the Honda XL 125 V-9 reliable? We analysed 2,028 real MOT tests across 212 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,028 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.5%
Typical Mileage
14,839mi
Annual Mileage
1,405mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
17yrs

The Honda XL 125 V-9 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include roller brake test indicates a binding brake, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda XL 125 V-9.

Honda XL 125 V-9 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda XL 125 V-9. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda XL 125 V-9 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda XL 125 V-9 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

81.8%
2010
80.7%
2009
82.7%
2008

Honda XL 125 V-9 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda XL 125 V-9 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 36
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 28
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 21
Drive chain excessively loose 16
Drive chain worn to excess 13
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 13

Honda XL 125 V-9 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Honda XL 125 V-9 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 18
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 10

Honda XL 125 V-9 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda XL 125 V-9 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
411 mi/yr
Typical
1,405 mi/yr
Average
2,248 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,266 mi/yr

Honda XL 125 V-9 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda XL 125 V-9 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2010 758 81.8% 7,844 14,394 23,637
2009 1,082 80.7% 8,416 14,615 24,386
2008 52 82.7% 11,331 16,788 22,948

How Long Does a Honda XL 125 V-9 Last?

Based on 212 Honda XL 125 V-9 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.6 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
17 years

Honda XL 125 V-9 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda XL 125 V-9 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
14,839 mi
75th Percentile
23,910 mi
95th Percentile
42,157 mi
Max Recorded
98,813 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda XL 125 V-9

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

Best year
2008

82.7% MOT pass rate from 52 tests

Year to avoid
2009

80.7% MOT pass rate from 1,082 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda XL 125 V-9 is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.7% across 52 tests. The 2009 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda XL 125 V-9 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda XL 125 V-9 THIS CAR 81.5% 2,028 14,839 mi 17 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 A 180 AMG Ln Prem + Night ED A 90.2% 807 22,119 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda XL 125 V-9 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda XL 125 V-9?

The Honda XL 125 V-9 has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.5% across 2,028 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 XL 125 V-9 are roller brake test indicates a binding brake (36 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (28), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (21). 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 XL 125 V-9 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 XL 125 V-9 owner drives around 1,405 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 XL 125 V-9 models stay on UK roads for around 17 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 XL 125 V-9 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda XL 125 V-9 reliable?
Based on 2,028 MOT tests, the Honda XL 125 V-9 has a 81.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda XL 125 V-9?
The most common MOT failures are roller brake test indicates a binding brake, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda XL 125 V-9 do per year?
The typical Honda XL 125 V-9 does around 1,405 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda XL 125 V-9 last?
Most Honda XL 125 V-9 models stay on UK roads for around 17 years based on our analysis of 212 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda XL 125 V-9?
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 XL 125 V-9?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda XL 125 V-9 is 2008 with a 82.7% pass rate across 52 tests.