Harley-davidson Custom MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,223 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 15.0%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Harley-davidson Custom MOT Reliability Overview
The Harley-davidson Custom is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,223 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 16 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.0% and a failure rate of 15.0%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Harley-davidson Custom earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Harley-davidson Custom presents for MOT with approximately 16,742 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2002 models achieve the highest pass rate at 97.1%, while 2000 models have the lowest at 75.6%. This 21.5 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Harley-davidson Custom is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 9.9% of all tests. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. The second most common issue is Motorcycle brakes at 5.4%. Motorcycle steering and suspension rounds out the top three at 4.7%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 11.1% | 136 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Brakes | 5.7% | 70 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 5.1% | 62 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 4.3% | 53 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 4.2% | 51 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 3.4% | 42 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 2.0% | 25 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 1.9% | 23 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 1.0% | 12 |
| 10 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 1.0% | 12 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Steering | 0.8% | 10 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Drive System | 0.7% | 8 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Tyres | 0.6% | 7 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 0.6% | 7 |
| 15 | Motorcycle Wheels | 0.5% | 6 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 16,742 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 6.64 | 11.1% | 136 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 3.42 | 5.7% | 70 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 3.03 | 5.1% | 62 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 2.59 | 4.3% | 53 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 2.49 | 4.2% | 51 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 2.05 | 3.4% | 42 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 1.22 | 2.0% | 25 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 1.12 | 1.9% | 23 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.59 | 1.0% | 12 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.59 | 1.0% | 12 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.49 | 0.8% | 10 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 0.39 | 0.7% | 8 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.34 | 0.6% | 7 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.34 | 0.6% | 7 |
| Motorcycle wheels | 0.29 | 0.5% | 6 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Harley-davidson Custom has 16,742 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Harley-davidson Custom has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 8.96% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Harley-davidson Custom MOT Data
The Harley-davidson Custom is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,223 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 16 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.0% and a failure rate of 15.0%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Harley-davidson Custom owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle lighting and signalling and motorcycle brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Custom is likely to perform.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.9% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 9.9% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Custom. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Motorcycle brakes — 5.4% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 5.4% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Custom. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Motorcycle steering and suspension — 4.7% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 4.7% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Custom. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Harley-davidson Custom?
Based on 1,223 MOT tests in our database, the Harley-davidson Custom has an overall pass rate of 85.0% (15.0% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Harley-davidson Custom?
The top 3 reasons a Harley-davidson Custom fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (9.9%), 2. Motorcycle brakes (5.4%), 3. Motorcycle steering and suspension (4.7%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Harley-davidson Custom reliable?
With a 15.0% MOT failure rate, the Custom is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Harley-davidson Custom?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (9.9%); Motorcycle brakes (5.4%); Motorcycle steering and suspension (4.7%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.