CarVerify

Kawasaki EX500-A6 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Kawasaki EX500-A6 car check

Is the Kawasaki EX500-A6 reliable? We analysed 1,592 real MOT tests across 214 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Kawasaki EX500-A6? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 1,592 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
78.0%
Typical Mileage
27,112mi
Annual Mileage
627mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
34yrs

The Kawasaki EX500-A6 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 roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kawasaki EX500-A6.

Kawasaki EX500-A6 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Kawasaki EX500-A6. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Kawasaki EX500-A6 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Kawasaki EX500-A6 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

71.6%
1994
78.6%
1993
80.2%
1992

Kawasaki EX500-A6 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Kawasaki EX500-A6 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 29
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 27
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 22
shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 20
suspension bush has excessive free play 19
Roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 18
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 18
suspension movement is excessively stiff 17
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 15
Headlamp aim too low 15

Kawasaki EX500-A6 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Kawasaki EX500-A6 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
144 mi/yr
Typical
627 mi/yr
Average
1,324 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,780 mi/yr

Kawasaki EX500-A6 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kawasaki EX500-A6 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1994 176 71.6% 22,294 28,712 34,983
1993 1,228 78.6% 19,094 26,837 34,540
1992 172 80.2% 21,478 26,670 34,073

How Long Does a Kawasaki EX500-A6 Last?

Based on 214 Kawasaki EX500-A6 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
21.1 years
Median
20.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
34 years

Kawasaki EX500-A6 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Kawasaki EX500-A6 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
27,112 mi
75th Percentile
34,444 mi
95th Percentile
48,379 mi
Max Recorded
199,436 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Kawasaki EX500-A6

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

Best year
1992

80.2% MOT pass rate from 172 tests

Year to avoid
1994

71.6% MOT pass rate from 176 tests

The best year to buy a used Kawasaki EX500-A6 is 1992, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.2% across 172 tests. The 1994 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Kawasaki EX500-A6 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Kawasaki EX500-A6 THIS CAR 78.0% 1,592 27,112 mi 34 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
Aston Martin Dbx V8 Auto 94.3% 2,346 21,994 mi — yrs

Compared to the Kawasaki ZX-6R (81.7% pass rate) and the Kawasaki ZX-9R (83.7% pass rate), the Kawasaki EX500-A6 trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Kawasaki EX500-A6 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 EX500-A6

Should you buy a used Kawasaki EX500-A6?

The Kawasaki EX500-A6 has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.0% across 1,592 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 EX500-A6 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (29 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (27), and roller brake test indicates a binding brake (22). 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 EX500-A6 owner drives around 627 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 EX500-A6 models stay on UK roads for around 34 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.

Kawasaki EX500-A6 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Kawasaki EX500-A6 reliable?
Based on 1,592 MOT tests, the Kawasaki EX500-A6 has a 78.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Kawasaki EX500-A6?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Kawasaki EX500-A6 do per year?
The typical Kawasaki EX500-A6 does around 627 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Kawasaki EX500-A6 last?
Most Kawasaki EX500-A6 models stay on UK roads for around 34 years based on our analysis of 214 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Kawasaki EX500-A6?
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 EX500-A6?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Kawasaki EX500-A6 is 1992 with a 80.2% pass rate across 172 tests.