Honda Cb400a MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 214 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 18.7%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Honda Cb400a MOT Reliability Overview
The Honda Cb400a is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 214 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.3% and a failure rate of 18.7%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Honda Cb400a earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Honda Cb400a presents for MOT with approximately 25,476 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1980 models achieve the highest pass rate at 84.8%, while 1978 models have the lowest at 69.8%. This 15.0 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Honda Cb400a is Motorcycle steering and suspension, affecting 12.6% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Motorcycle lighting and signalling at 9.3%. Motorcycle brakes rounds out the top three at 6.1%. 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 Steering And Suspension | 13.6% | 29 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 9.8% | 21 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Drive System | 6.1% | 13 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Brakes | 6.1% | 13 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 4.2% | 9 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 2.3% | 5 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 2.3% | 5 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 1.9% | 4 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 0.9% | 2 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Suspension | 0.5% | 1 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 0.5% | 1 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 0.5% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 25,476 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 steering and suspension | 5.32 | 13.6% | 29 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 3.85 | 9.8% | 21 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 2.38 | 6.1% | 13 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 2.38 | 6.1% | 13 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 1.65 | 4.2% | 9 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.92 | 2.3% | 5 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.92 | 2.3% | 5 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 0.73 | 1.9% | 4 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.37 | 0.9% | 2 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.18 | 0.5% | 1 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.18 | 0.5% | 1 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.18 | 0.5% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Honda Cb400a has 25,476 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 Honda Cb400a has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 7.34% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Honda Cb400a MOT Data
The Honda Cb400a is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 214 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.3% and a failure rate of 18.7%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Honda Cb400a owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle steering and suspension and motorcycle lighting and signalling 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 Cb400a is likely to perform.
Motorcycle steering and suspension — 12.6% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 12.6% of MOT failures on the Honda Cb400a. 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.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.3% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 9.3% of MOT failures on the Honda Cb400a. 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 — 6.1% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 6.1% of MOT failures on the Honda Cb400a. 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).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Cb400a?
Based on 214 MOT tests in our database, the Honda Cb400a has an overall pass rate of 81.3% (18.7% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Cb400a?
The top 3 reasons a Honda Cb400a fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle steering and suspension (12.6%), 2. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (9.3%), 3. Motorcycle brakes (6.1%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Honda Cb400a reliable?
With a 18.7% MOT failure rate, the Cb400a is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Cb400a?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle steering and suspension (12.6%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (9.3%); Motorcycle brakes (6.1%). 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.