Harley-davidson Softtail MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 297 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 11.1%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Harley-davidson Softtail MOT Reliability Overview
The Harley-davidson Softtail is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 297 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.9% and a failure rate of 11.1%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Harley-davidson Softtail earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Harley-davidson Softtail presents for MOT with approximately 20,526 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1994 models achieve the highest pass rate at 90.0%, while 1991 models have the lowest at 87.1%. This 2.9 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Harley-davidson Softtail is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 5.1% 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 fuel and exhaust at 2.4%. Motorcycle reg plates and vin rounds out the top three at 2.4%. 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 | 6.4% | 19 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 2.7% | 8 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 2.4% | 7 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 2.4% | 7 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Brakes | 2.0% | 6 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 1.3% | 4 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 1.3% | 4 |
| 8 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 1.0% | 3 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 0.7% | 2 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 0.3% | 1 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 0.3% | 1 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Tyres | 0.3% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 20,526 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 | 3.12 | 6.4% | 19 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 1.31 | 2.7% | 8 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 1.15 | 2.4% | 7 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 1.15 | 2.4% | 7 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 0.98 | 2.0% | 6 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 0.66 | 1.3% | 4 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 0.66 | 1.3% | 4 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.49 | 1.0% | 3 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.33 | 0.7% | 2 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.16 | 0.3% | 1 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.16 | 0.3% | 1 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.16 | 0.3% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Harley-davidson Softtail has 20,526 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 Softtail has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.41% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Harley-davidson Softtail MOT Data
The Harley-davidson Softtail is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 297 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.9% and a failure rate of 11.1%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Harley-davidson Softtail 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 fuel and exhaust 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 Softtail is likely to perform.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 5.1% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 5.1% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Softtail. 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 fuel and exhaust — 2.4% of failures
Motorcycle fuel and exhaust issues account for 2.4% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Softtail. Motorcycle fuel and exhaust 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 reg plates and vin — 2.4% of failures
Motorcycle reg plates and vin issues account for 2.4% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Softtail. Motorcycle reg plates and vin 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Harley-davidson Softtail?
Based on 297 MOT tests in our database, the Harley-davidson Softtail has an overall pass rate of 88.9% (11.1% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Harley-davidson Softtail?
The top 3 reasons a Harley-davidson Softtail fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (5.1%), 2. Motorcycle fuel and exhaust (2.4%), 3. Motorcycle reg plates and vin (2.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Harley-davidson Softtail reliable?
With a 11.1% MOT failure rate, the Softtail is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Harley-davidson Softtail?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (5.1%); Motorcycle fuel and exhaust (2.4%); Motorcycle reg plates and vin (2.4%). 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.