Honda XL700 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda XL700 car check
Is the Honda XL700 reliable? We analysed 1,369 real MOT tests across 121 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda XL700? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda XL700 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 headbearing has excessive free play. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda XL700.
Honda XL700 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda XL700. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda XL700 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda XL700 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda XL700 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda XL700 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda XL700 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Honda XL700 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Honda XL700 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda XL700 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda XL700 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda XL700 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 105 | 91.4% | 8,686 | 14,534 | 28,012 |
| 2010 | 229 | 91.7% | 7,729 | 13,060 | 20,595 |
| 2009 | 330 | 90.0% | 10,380 | 16,306 | 24,612 |
| 2008 | 644 | 86.8% | 10,536 | 16,906 | 24,970 |
How Long Does a Honda XL700 Last?
Based on 121 Honda XL700 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda XL700 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda XL700 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 XL700
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
91.7% MOT pass rate from 229 tests
86.8% MOT pass rate from 644 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda XL700 is 2010, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.7% across 229 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda XL700 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda XL700 THIS CAR | 88.7% | 1,369 | 16,238 mi | 18 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 |
| Talbot Alpine | 80.6% | 1,647 | 55,620 mi | 64 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda XL700 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda XL700 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 XL700Should you buy a used Honda XL700?
The Honda XL700 has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.7% across 1,369 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 XL700 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (9 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (9), and steering headbearing has excessive free play (5). 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 XL700 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 XL700 owner drives around 1,123 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 XL700 models stay on UK roads for around 18 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.