Kawasaki Er 500 C5P Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Kawasaki Er 500 C5P car check
Is the Kawasaki Er 500 C5P reliable? We analysed 4,065 real MOT tests across 360 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Kawasaki Er 500 C5P? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Kawasaki Er 500 C5P is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kawasaki Er 500 C5P.
Kawasaki Er 500 C5P Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Kawasaki Er 500 C5P. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Kawasaki Er 500 C5P MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Kawasaki Er 500 C5P to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Kawasaki Er 500 C5P Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Kawasaki Er 500 C5P fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Kawasaki Er 500 C5P Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Kawasaki Er 500 C5P owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Kawasaki Er 500 C5P MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kawasaki Er 500 C5P year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 62 | 90.3% | 16,161 | 24,106 | 29,920 |
| 2007 | 804 | 86.4% | 9,759 | 19,252 | 30,553 |
| 2006 | 1,642 | 84.8% | 8,774 | 16,002 | 27,378 |
| 2005 | 1,494 | 82.4% | 11,686 | 20,556 | 32,518 |
How Long Does a Kawasaki Er 500 C5P Last?
Based on 360 Kawasaki Er 500 C5P vehicles on UK roads.
Kawasaki Er 500 C5P Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Kawasaki Er 500 C5P 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 Er 500 C5P
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.3% MOT pass rate from 62 tests
82.4% MOT pass rate from 1,494 tests
The best year to buy a used Kawasaki Er 500 C5P is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.3% across 62 tests. The 2005 model year has the lowest pass rate at 82.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Kawasaki Er 500 C5P Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki Er 500 C5P THIS CAR | 84.3% | 4,065 | 18,406 mi | 21 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 |
| Renault Master LM35 Business DCI | 79.9% | 5,246 | 62,957 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Kawasaki ZX-6R (81.7% pass rate) and the Kawasaki ZX-9R (83.7% pass rate), the Kawasaki Er 500 C5P outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Kawasaki Er 500 C5P 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 Er 500 C5PShould you buy a used Kawasaki Er 500 C5P?
The Kawasaki Er 500 C5P has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.3% across 4,065 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 Er 500 C5P are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (48 recorded failures), shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (36), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (35). 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 Er 500 C5P owner drives around 1,181 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 Er 500 C5P models stay on UK roads for around 21 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.