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Yamaha Dt Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Yamaha Dt car check

Is the Yamaha Dt reliable? We analysed 1,828 real MOT tests across 323 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,828 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
76.9%
Typical Mileage
16,799mi
Annual Mileage
303mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
49yrs

The Yamaha Dt is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, reflector on motorcycle missing and direction indicator not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha Dt.

Yamaha Dt Number Plates

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

Yamaha Dt MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

73.2%
2003
70.9%
2001
68.6%
1993
75.8%
1992
73.9%
1991
68.9%
1990
74.3%
1989
83.5%
1988
81.9%
1987
66%
1985
84.3%
1981
72.8%
1980
86.9%
1979
93.4%
1978
83.3%
1977

Yamaha Dt Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 42
reflector on motorcycle missing 34
Direction indicator not working 29
Direction indicators not working 28
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 27
Horn not working 25
wheel bearings have excessive free play 25
Wheel spoke excessively loose 23
Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user 23
suspension bush has excessive free play 20

Yamaha Dt Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
70 mi/yr
Typical
303 mi/yr
Average
1,085 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,062 mi/yr

Yamaha Dt MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 71 73.2% 8,957 13,968 30,187
2001 55 70.9% 12,922 20,217 22,354
1993 70 68.6% 10,882 21,034 32,354
1992 124 75.8% 15,978 21,203 28,801
1991 119 73.9% 10,962 16,645 22,534
1990 132 68.9% 13,653 21,999 28,327
1989 70 74.3% 16,770 20,936 30,547
1988 79 83.5% 10,705 15,682 21,318
1987 83 81.9% 22,072 28,016 42,334
1985 50 66.0% 4,226 16,992 26,692
1981 108 84.3% 7,384 13,742 18,099
1980 92 72.8% 7,711 12,648 20,210
1979 84 86.9% 7,080 9,245 16,950
1978 76 93.4% 4,717 12,652 17,880
1977 66 83.3% 7,087 17,434 27,089

How Long Does a Yamaha Dt Last?

Based on 323 Yamaha Dt vehicles on UK roads.

Average
26.0 years
Median
27.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
49 years

Yamaha Dt Mileage Distribution

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

Median
16,799 mi
75th Percentile
25,430 mi
95th Percentile
40,941 mi
Max Recorded
208,822 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Yamaha Dt

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

Best year
1978

93.4% MOT pass rate from 76 tests

Year to avoid
1985

66.0% MOT pass rate from 50 tests

The best year to buy a used Yamaha Dt is 1978, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.4% across 76 tests. The 1985 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Yamaha Dt Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Yamaha Dt THIS CAR 76.9% 1,828 16,799 mi 49 yrs
Yamaha Yzf R1 86.5% 175,313 16,232 mi 28 yrs
Yamaha FZS600 85% 157,659 22,466 mi 28 yrs
Yamaha XJR1300 88.8% 107,128 16,836 mi 27 yrs
Benelli Tre 87.9% 960 10,168 mi 19 yrs

Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha Dt trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Yamaha Dt?

The Yamaha Dt has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.9% across 1,828 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 Yamaha Dt are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (42 recorded failures), reflector on motorcycle missing (34), and direction indicator not working (29). 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 Yamaha Dt owner drives around 303 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 Yamaha Dt models stay on UK roads for around 49 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.

Yamaha Dt — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yamaha Dt reliable?
Based on 1,828 MOT tests, the Yamaha Dt has a 76.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Yamaha Dt?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, reflector on motorcycle missing, and direction indicator not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Yamaha Dt do per year?
The typical Yamaha Dt does around 303 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Yamaha Dt last?
Most Yamaha Dt models stay on UK roads for around 49 years based on our analysis of 323 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Yamaha Dt?
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 Yamaha Dt?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Yamaha Dt is 1978 with a 93.4% pass rate across 76 tests.