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Yamaha DT400 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Yamaha DT400 car check

Is the Yamaha DT400 reliable? We analysed 324 real MOT tests across 100 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 324 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
84.3%
Typical Mileage
7,384mi
Annual Mileage
120mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Yamaha DT400 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include reflector on motorcycle missing, stop lamp affected by the operation of another lamp and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha DT400.

Yamaha DT400 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Yamaha DT400. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Yamaha DT400 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Yamaha DT400 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

reflector on motorcycle missing 3
Stop lamp affected by the operation of another lamp 3
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 2
Direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp 2
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 2
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on main beam 2
Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user 2
Horn not working 2
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 2
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 2

Yamaha DT400 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Yamaha DT400 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
40 mi/yr
Typical
120 mi/yr
Average
365 mi/yr
Heavy usage
274 mi/yr

How Long Does a Yamaha DT400 Last?

Based on 100 Yamaha DT400 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
22.9 years
Median
30.5 years

Yamaha DT400 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha DT400 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
7,384 mi
75th Percentile
12,646 mi
95th Percentile
19,484 mi
Max Recorded
38,850 mi

How Does the Yamaha DT400 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Yamaha DT400 THIS CAR 84.3% 324 7,384 mi — 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
Moto Roma Grandprix 125 74.9% 482 8,096 mi 22 yrs

Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha DT400 trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Yamaha DT400 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.

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Should you buy a used Yamaha DT400?

The Yamaha DT400 has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.3% across 324 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 DT400 are reflector on motorcycle missing (3 recorded failures), stop lamp affected by the operation of another lamp (3), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (2). 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 DT400 owner drives around 120 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.

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 DT400 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yamaha DT400 reliable?
Based on 324 MOT tests, the Yamaha DT400 has a 84.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Yamaha DT400?
The most common MOT failures are reflector on motorcycle missing, stop lamp affected by the operation of another lamp, and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Yamaha DT400 do per year?
The typical Yamaha DT400 does around 120 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Yamaha DT400 last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Yamaha DT400?
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.