Yamaha SA50 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Yamaha SA50 car check
Is the Yamaha SA50 reliable? We analysed 410 real MOT tests across 117 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Yamaha SA50? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Yamaha SA50 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp, brake lever has inadequate reserve travel and direction indicators not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha SA50.
Yamaha SA50 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Yamaha SA50. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Yamaha SA50 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Yamaha SA50 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Yamaha SA50 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Yamaha SA50 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Yamaha SA50 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Yamaha SA50 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Yamaha SA50 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha SA50 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 54 | 75.9% | 3,826 | 4,270 | 7,816 |
| 1982 | 94 | 84.0% | 2,098 | 3,118 | 6,375 |
| 1981 | 74 | 82.4% | 1,202 | 3,318 | 7,496 |
| 1980 | 77 | 85.7% | 1,763 | 3,484 | 5,886 |
How Long Does a Yamaha SA50 Last?
Based on 117 Yamaha SA50 vehicles on UK roads.
Yamaha SA50 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha SA50 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Yamaha SA50
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
85.7% MOT pass rate from 77 tests
75.9% MOT pass rate from 54 tests
The best year to buy a used Yamaha SA50 is 1980, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.7% across 77 tests. The 1983 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Yamaha SA50 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha SA50 THIS CAR | 83.4% | 410 | 3,804 mi | 46 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 |
| Seat Leon S 16V | 74.9% | 674 | 81,374 mi | 25 yrs |
Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha SA50 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Yamaha SA50 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 Yamaha SA50Should you buy a used Yamaha SA50?
The Yamaha SA50 has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.4% across 410 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 SA50 are direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp (10 recorded failures), brake lever has inadequate reserve travel (8), and direction indicators not working (8). 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 SA50 owner drives around 102 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 SA50 models stay on UK roads for around 46 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.