Honda XR250 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda XR250 car check
Is the Honda XR250 reliable? We analysed 10,967 real MOT tests across 1,440 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda XR250? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda XR250 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include reflector on motorcycle missing, wheel bearings have excessive free play and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda XR250.
Honda XR250 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda XR250. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda XR250 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda XR250 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda XR250 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda XR250 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda XR250 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda XR250 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda XR250 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda XR250 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 50 | 86.0% | 10,717 | 17,635 | 18,948 |
| 2006 | 74 | 74.3% | 14,080 | 21,633 | 28,368 |
| 2005 | 693 | 84.1% | 3,217 | 6,568 | 13,639 |
| 2004 | 1,137 | 86.2% | 2,568 | 6,208 | 13,874 |
| 2003 | 1,302 | 83.7% | 3,653 | 8,286 | 15,248 |
| 2002 | 1,307 | 81.8% | 3,986 | 8,279 | 15,029 |
| 2001 | 674 | 82.2% | 4,446 | 9,585 | 16,451 |
| 2000 | 625 | 80.3% | 5,112 | 10,176 | 19,500 |
| 1999 | 671 | 81.1% | 4,786 | 9,204 | 14,244 |
| 1998 | 1,004 | 80.4% | 4,994 | 9,228 | 16,192 |
| 1997 | 571 | 82.7% | 5,416 | 9,300 | 15,176 |
| 1996 | 430 | 84.0% | 4,936 | 9,736 | 15,960 |
| 1995 | 349 | 80.2% | 8,104 | 12,309 | 20,522 |
| 1994 | 204 | 81.4% | 4,284 | 8,303 | 17,203 |
| 1993 | 278 | 82.0% | 7,480 | 13,019 | 18,379 |
| 1992 | 158 | 86.7% | 9,879 | 14,893 | 18,751 |
| 1991 | 288 | 79.5% | 8,005 | 13,474 | 22,053 |
| 1990 | 149 | 75.8% | 2,741 | 11,290 | 15,954 |
| 1989 | 139 | 77.7% | 28 | 1,985 | 11,042 |
| 1988 | 177 | 81.4% | 86 | 3,856 | 12,648 |
How Long Does a Honda XR250 Last?
Based on 1,440 Honda XR250 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda XR250 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda XR250 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 XR250
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.6% MOT pass rate from 163 tests
74.3% MOT pass rate from 74 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda XR250 is 1987, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.6% across 163 tests. The 2006 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda XR250 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda XR250 THIS CAR | 82.4% | 10,967 | 9,004 mi | 41 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 |
| Renault Avantime | 68.7% | 7,960 | 77,804 mi | 24 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda XR250 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda XR250 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 XR250Should you buy a used Honda XR250?
The Honda XR250 has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.4% across 10,967 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 XR250 are reflector on motorcycle missing (179 recorded failures), wheel bearings have excessive free play (141), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (119). 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.
A typical Honda XR250 owner drives around 316 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 XR250 models stay on UK roads for around 41 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.