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Jawa 350/639 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Jawa 350/639 car check

Is the Jawa 350/639 reliable? We analysed 881 real MOT tests across 143 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 881 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
87.2%
Typical Mileage
11,178mi
Annual Mileage
304mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
36yrs

The Jawa 350/639 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, steering headbearing has excessive free play and brake pedal has inadequate reserve travel. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Jawa 350/639.

Jawa 350/639 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Jawa 350/639. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Browse all 143 Jawa 350/639 registrations

Jawa 350/639 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Jawa 350/639 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

87.4%
1994
90.3%
1993
85.4%
1992
84.8%
1991
89.1%
1990

Jawa 350/639 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Jawa 350/639 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 12
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 9
Brake pedal has inadequate reserve travel 4
Direction indicator not working 4
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 4
wheel bearings have excessive free play 4
Headlamp aim too high 2
Sidecar front position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 2
Sidecar direction indicator not working 2

Jawa 350/639 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Jawa 350/639 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
94 mi/yr
Typical
304 mi/yr
Average
892 mi/yr
Heavy usage
894 mi/yr

Jawa 350/639 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Jawa 350/639 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1994 95 87.4% 6,954 11,090 18,037
1993 155 90.3% 5,241 8,105 11,437
1992 157 85.4% 7,553 16,010 19,693
1991 191 84.8% 9,796 13,750 18,101
1990 201 89.1% 6,734 11,122 18,498

How Long Does a Jawa 350/639 Last?

Based on 143 Jawa 350/639 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
25.0 years
Median
26.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
36 years

Jawa 350/639 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Jawa 350/639 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
11,178 mi
75th Percentile
18,107 mi
95th Percentile
34,853 mi
Max Recorded
56,424 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Jawa 350/639

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

Best year
1993

90.3% MOT pass rate from 155 tests

Year to avoid
1991

84.8% MOT pass rate from 191 tests

The best year to buy a used Jawa 350/639 is 1993, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.3% across 155 tests. The 1991 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Jawa 350/639 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Jawa 350/639 THIS CAR 87.2% 881 11,178 mi 36 yrs
Jawa 210 87.5% 614 315 mi 35 yrs
Jawa 350 86.4% 531 8,912 mi — yrs
Jawa Economy 94.2% 225 72 mi 35 yrs
Peugeot 2008 Allure Premium + P-tch Ss 91% 686 22,741 mi — yrs

Compared to the Jawa 210 (87.5% pass rate) and the Jawa 350 (86.4% pass rate), the Jawa 350/639 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Jawa 350/639?

The Jawa 350/639 has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.2% across 881 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 Jawa 350/639 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (12 recorded failures), steering headbearing has excessive free play (9), and brake pedal has inadequate reserve travel (4). 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 Jawa 350/639 owner drives around 304 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 Jawa 350/639 models stay on UK roads for around 36 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.

Jawa 350/639 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Jawa 350/639 reliable?
Based on 881 MOT tests, the Jawa 350/639 has a 87.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Jawa 350/639?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, steering headbearing has excessive free play, and brake pedal has inadequate reserve travel. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Jawa 350/639 do per year?
The typical Jawa 350/639 does around 304 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Jawa 350/639 last?
Most Jawa 350/639 models stay on UK roads for around 36 years based on our analysis of 143 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Jawa 350/639?
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 Jawa 350/639?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Jawa 350/639 is 1993 with a 90.3% pass rate across 155 tests.