CarVerify

Kawasaki Ex Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Kawasaki Ex car check

Is the Kawasaki Ex reliable? We analysed 15,662 real MOT tests across 2,443 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Kawasaki Ex? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 15,662 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.9%
Typical Mileage
10,143mi
Annual Mileage
855mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
13yrs

The Kawasaki Ex is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kawasaki Ex.

Kawasaki Ex Number Plates

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

Kawasaki Ex MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Kawasaki Ex to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

89.1%
2018
86.2%
2017
88.6%
2016
86.5%
2015
87.1%
2014
86.9%
2013
82.7%
2012
87%
2011
88.2%
2010
83.6%
2009
83.2%
2008
86.7%
2007
81.8%
1993
72.4%
1988

Kawasaki Ex Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Kawasaki Ex fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 38

Kawasaki Ex Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Kawasaki Ex models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 175
Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 79

Kawasaki Ex Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
271 mi/yr
Typical
855 mi/yr
Average
1,633 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,091 mi/yr

Kawasaki Ex MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kawasaki Ex year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2018 64 89.1% 2,713 5,908 9,806
2017 159 86.2% 4,357 8,443 12,352
2016 3,388 88.6% 5,152 9,832 15,568
2015 4,212 86.5% 5,323 9,870 16,414
2014 5,406 87.1% 5,836 10,341 16,759
2013 852 86.9% 4,300 8,342 15,860
2012 150 82.7% 4,999 8,680 12,846
2011 162 87.0% 3,779 7,662 12,579
2010 195 88.2% 4,386 10,534 15,635
2009 152 83.6% 4,805 11,763 21,643
2008 131 83.2% 7,564 11,486 28,158
2007 90 86.7% 13,451 19,834 27,546
1993 66 81.8% 14,368 20,095 27,404
1988 58 72.4% 22,658 27,844 37,605

How Long Does a Kawasaki Ex Last?

Based on 2,443 Kawasaki Ex vehicles on UK roads.

Average
9.6 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
13 years

Kawasaki Ex Mileage Distribution

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

Median
10,143 mi
75th Percentile
16,729 mi
95th Percentile
32,277 mi
Max Recorded
141,801 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Kawasaki Ex

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

Best year
2018

89.1% MOT pass rate from 64 tests

Year to avoid
1988

72.4% MOT pass rate from 58 tests

The best year to buy a used Kawasaki Ex is 2018, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.1% across 64 tests. The 1988 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Kawasaki Ex Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Kawasaki Ex THIS CAR 86.9% 15,662 10,143 mi 13 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
Ford Fiesta Titanium Turbo MHEV 90.2% 18,574 21,104 mi — yrs

Compared to the Kawasaki ZX-6R (81.7% pass rate) and the Kawasaki ZX-9R (83.7% pass rate), the Kawasaki Ex outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Kawasaki Ex 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 Ex

Should you buy a used Kawasaki Ex?

The Kawasaki Ex has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.9% across 15,662 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common failure point is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm with 38 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Kawasaki Ex with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Kawasaki Ex owner drives around 855 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 Ex models stay on UK roads for around 13 years. 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.

Kawasaki Ex — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Kawasaki Ex reliable?
Based on 15,662 MOT tests, the Kawasaki Ex has a 86.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Kawasaki Ex?
The most common failure point is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm.
How many miles does a Kawasaki Ex do per year?
The typical Kawasaki Ex does around 855 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Kawasaki Ex last?
Most Kawasaki Ex models stay on UK roads for around 13 years based on our analysis of 2,443 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Kawasaki Ex?
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 Kawasaki Ex?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Kawasaki Ex is 2018 with a 89.1% pass rate across 64 tests.