Yamaha YN50 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Yamaha YN50 car check
Is the Yamaha YN50 reliable? We analysed 23,061 real MOT tests across 3,666 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Yamaha YN50? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Yamaha YN50 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha YN50.
Yamaha YN50 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Yamaha YN50. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Yamaha YN50 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Yamaha YN50 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Yamaha YN50 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Yamaha YN50 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Yamaha YN50 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Yamaha YN50 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Yamaha YN50 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha YN50 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 85 | 89.4% | 4,741 | 8,623 | 10,732 |
| 2011 | 221 | 82.8% | 3,999 | 7,153 | 10,783 |
| 2010 | 407 | 86.5% | 3,451 | 6,396 | 11,579 |
| 2009 | 348 | 81.0% | 3,540 | 7,062 | 12,656 |
| 2008 | 141 | 80.1% | 2,284 | 4,226 | 5,403 |
| 2007 | 653 | 82.2% | 1,838 | 3,503 | 5,204 |
| 2006 | 1,012 | 76.2% | 1,753 | 3,600 | 5,342 |
| 2005 | 1,614 | 75.8% | 2,520 | 4,939 | 7,405 |
| 2004 | 2,090 | 74.0% | 3,478 | 6,613 | 10,330 |
| 2003 | 2,773 | 76.2% | 3,525 | 6,663 | 10,831 |
| 2002 | 3,607 | 76.0% | 3,994 | 7,192 | 11,500 |
| 2001 | 3,961 | 76.0% | 5,038 | 8,263 | 12,179 |
| 2000 | 2,761 | 76.4% | 5,496 | 8,726 | 13,166 |
| 1999 | 2,222 | 75.0% | 5,368 | 8,353 | 11,738 |
| 1998 | 1,112 | 75.2% | 5,487 | 8,273 | 13,134 |
How Long Does a Yamaha YN50 Last?
Based on 3,666 Yamaha YN50 vehicles on UK roads.
Yamaha YN50 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha YN50 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 YN50
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.4% MOT pass rate from 85 tests
74.0% MOT pass rate from 2,090 tests
The best year to buy a used Yamaha YN50 is 2012, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.4% across 85 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Yamaha YN50 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha YN50 THIS CAR | 76.3% | 23,061 | 6,952 mi | 28 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 |
| Citroen C3 Shine Puretech S/s | 90.4% | 9,267 | 25,245 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha YN50 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Yamaha YN50 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 YN50Should you buy a used Yamaha YN50?
The Yamaha YN50 has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.3% across 23,061 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 YN50 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (840 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (664), and exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey (413). 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 YN50 owner drives around 698 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 YN50 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.