CarVerify

Kymco Cobra Racer Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Kymco Cobra Racer car check

Is the Kymco Cobra Racer reliable? We analysed 1,352 real MOT tests across 226 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Kymco Cobra Racer? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 1,352 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
77.6%
Typical Mileage
13,930mi
Annual Mileage
783mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
28yrs

The Kymco Cobra Racer is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include steering headbearing has excessive free play, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and shock absorber has inadequate damping effect.. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kymco Cobra Racer.

Kymco Cobra Racer Number Plates

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

Kymco Cobra Racer MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

79.3%
2004
80.2%
2003
73.9%
2002
81.6%
2001
74.1%
2000
76.8%
1999
77.4%
1998

Kymco Cobra Racer Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Steering headbearing has excessive free play 62
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 28
shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 27
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 25
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 21
Handlebar mounting clamp bolt loose 20
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 15
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 11
Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel 11
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 11

Kymco Cobra Racer Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
275 mi/yr
Typical
783 mi/yr
Average
1,604 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,227 mi/yr

Kymco Cobra Racer MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2004 58 79.3% 7,412 10,947 19,114
2003 131 80.2% 7,654 14,001 20,137
2002 153 73.9% 5,521 10,540 14,921
2001 326 81.6% 8,962 15,105 26,078
2000 278 74.1% 9,211 15,990 25,212
1999 298 76.8% 5,729 13,501 21,816
1998 106 77.4% 9,137 14,623 17,268

How Long Does a Kymco Cobra Racer Last?

Based on 226 Kymco Cobra Racer vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.8 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
28 years

Kymco Cobra Racer Mileage Distribution

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

Median
13,930 mi
75th Percentile
21,292 mi
95th Percentile
37,816 mi
Max Recorded
335,261 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Kymco Cobra Racer

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

Best year
2001

81.6% MOT pass rate from 326 tests

Year to avoid
2002

73.9% MOT pass rate from 153 tests

The best year to buy a used Kymco Cobra Racer is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 81.6% across 326 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Kymco Cobra Racer Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Kymco Cobra Racer THIS CAR 77.6% 1,352 13,930 mi 28 yrs
Kymco Agility 82% 22,853 11,906 mi 21 yrs
Kymco Zing 71.1% 4,206 12,325 mi 28 yrs
Kymco Super 9 73.6% 3,895 11,929 mi 26 yrs
Ford Transit Custom 260LEADER Eblue 83% 587 46,666 mi — yrs

Compared to the Kymco Agility (82.0% pass rate) and the Kymco Zing (71.1% pass rate), the Kymco Cobra Racer sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

Found a Kymco Cobra Racer 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 Kymco Cobra Racer

Should you buy a used Kymco Cobra Racer?

The Kymco Cobra Racer has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.6% across 1,352 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 Kymco Cobra Racer are steering headbearing has excessive free play (62 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (28), and shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. (27). 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 Kymco Cobra Racer owner drives around 783 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 Kymco Cobra Racer models stay on UK roads for around 28 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.

Kymco Cobra Racer — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Kymco Cobra Racer reliable?
Based on 1,352 MOT tests, the Kymco Cobra Racer has a 77.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Kymco Cobra Racer?
The most common MOT failures are steering headbearing has excessive free play, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and shock absorber has inadequate damping effect.. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Kymco Cobra Racer do per year?
The typical Kymco Cobra Racer does around 783 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Kymco Cobra Racer last?
Most Kymco Cobra Racer models stay on UK roads for around 28 years based on our analysis of 226 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Kymco Cobra Racer?
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 Kymco Cobra Racer?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Kymco Cobra Racer is 2001 with a 81.6% pass rate across 326 tests.