Kawasaki EL250 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Kawasaki EL250 car check
Is the Kawasaki EL250 reliable? We analysed 1,957 real MOT tests across 253 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Kawasaki EL250? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Kawasaki EL250 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and drive chain excessively loose. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kawasaki EL250.
Kawasaki EL250 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Kawasaki EL250. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Kawasaki EL250 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Kawasaki EL250 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Kawasaki EL250 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Kawasaki EL250 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Kawasaki EL250 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Kawasaki EL250 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Kawasaki EL250 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kawasaki EL250 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 51 | 82.4% | 5,324 | 8,657 | 12,488 |
| 1999 | 77 | 84.4% | 7,308 | 17,169 | 28,695 |
| 1998 | 69 | 81.2% | 8,988 | 17,339 | 19,816 |
| 1997 | 240 | 82.1% | 8,138 | 14,521 | 20,913 |
| 1996 | 189 | 78.8% | 7,324 | 13,776 | 17,715 |
| 1995 | 322 | 81.7% | 10,546 | 15,832 | 25,346 |
| 1994 | 369 | 84.3% | 10,415 | 16,233 | 23,846 |
| 1993 | 462 | 80.3% | 11,284 | 16,622 | 22,735 |
How Long Does a Kawasaki EL250 Last?
Based on 253 Kawasaki EL250 vehicles on UK roads.
Kawasaki EL250 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Kawasaki EL250 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 Kawasaki EL250
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
84.4% MOT pass rate from 77 tests
78.8% MOT pass rate from 189 tests
The best year to buy a used Kawasaki EL250 is 1999, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.4% across 77 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 78.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Kawasaki EL250 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki EL250 THIS CAR | 82.0% | 1,957 | 15,856 mi | 33 yrs |
| Kawasaki ZX-6R | 81.7% | 204,826 | 19,965 mi | 31 yrs |
| Kawasaki ZX-9R | 83.7% | 103,150 | 22,736 mi | 32 yrs |
| Kawasaki ER5 | 81.2% | 65,763 | 22,023 mi | 30 yrs |
| Vauxhall Antara Diamond Cdti S/s | 87.2% | 766 | 64,839 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Kawasaki ZX-6R (81.7% pass rate) and the Kawasaki ZX-9R (83.7% pass rate), the Kawasaki EL250 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Kawasaki EL250 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 Kawasaki EL250Should you buy a used Kawasaki EL250?
The Kawasaki EL250 has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.0% across 1,957 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 Kawasaki EL250 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (30 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (25), and drive chain excessively loose (19). 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 Kawasaki EL250 owner drives around 309 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 Kawasaki EL250 models stay on UK roads for around 33 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.