Yamaha Trike Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Yamaha Trike car check
Is the Yamaha Trike reliable? We analysed 5,593 real MOT tests across 523 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Yamaha Trike? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Yamaha Trike is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp not working, reflector missing and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha Trike.
Yamaha Trike Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Yamaha Trike. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Yamaha Trike MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Yamaha Trike to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Yamaha Trike Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Yamaha Trike fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Yamaha Trike Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Yamaha Trike models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Yamaha Trike Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Yamaha Trike owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Yamaha Trike MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha Trike year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 74 | 77.0% | 8,187 | 15,402 | 21,390 |
| 2007 | 56 | 91.1% | 8,003 | 12,390 | 18,791 |
| 2006 | 55 | 81.8% | 9,550 | 12,756 | 25,677 |
| 2005 | 80 | 90.0% | 14,786 | 21,626 | 33,722 |
| 2004 | 95 | 83.2% | 6,234 | 14,917 | 23,014 |
| 2002 | 145 | 84.1% | 13,352 | 30,366 | 41,575 |
| 2001 | 168 | 82.7% | 11,178 | 18,452 | 27,696 |
| 2000 | 177 | 84.7% | 10,628 | 19,309 | 32,588 |
| 1999 | 145 | 77.2% | 9,815 | 17,089 | 26,612 |
| 1998 | 270 | 82.6% | 10,826 | 19,261 | 31,218 |
| 1997 | 433 | 84.5% | 13,040 | 20,528 | 29,043 |
| 1996 | 435 | 82.3% | 11,826 | 19,591 | 28,823 |
| 1995 | 274 | 81.0% | 12,879 | 19,896 | 34,278 |
| 1994 | 298 | 81.9% | 16,913 | 22,260 | 30,938 |
| 1993 | 409 | 78.0% | 18,824 | 27,771 | 33,928 |
| 1992 | 312 | 82.4% | 21,095 | 29,335 | 37,005 |
| 1991 | 306 | 77.8% | 13,380 | 19,992 | 35,703 |
| 1990 | 231 | 77.9% | 17,564 | 31,582 | 51,570 |
| 1989 | 260 | 76.2% | 14,788 | 31,248 | 45,092 |
| 1988 | 64 | 81.3% | 28,394 | 43,204 | 77,262 |
How Long Does a Yamaha Trike Last?
Based on 523 Yamaha Trike vehicles on UK roads.
Yamaha Trike Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha Trike 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 Trike
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
93.1% MOT pass rate from 58 tests
73.2% MOT pass rate from 127 tests
The best year to buy a used Yamaha Trike is 1978, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.1% across 58 tests. The 1981 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Yamaha Trike Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha Trike THIS CAR | 81.1% | 5,593 | 22,695 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 |
| Herald Motor Company Xf | 73.6% | 2,743 | 5,820 mi | 13 yrs |
Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha Trike trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Yamaha Trike 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 TrikeShould you buy a used Yamaha Trike?
The Yamaha Trike has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.1% across 5,593 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 Trike are stop lamp not working (73 recorded failures), reflector missing (69), and position lamp(s) not working (59). 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.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Yamaha Trike with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Yamaha Trike owner drives around 433 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 Trike 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.