Honda Goldwing MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 5,212 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 14.6%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Honda Goldwing MOT Reliability Overview
The Honda Goldwing is a less common vehicle in the UK, with 5,212 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 36 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.4% and a failure rate of 14.6%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Honda Goldwing earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Honda Goldwing presents for MOT with approximately 48,781 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2011 models achieve the highest pass rate at 97.7%, while 1982 models have the lowest at 73.2%. This 24.5 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Honda Goldwing is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 6.3% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Motorcycle lighting and signalling at 4.6%. Brakes rounds out the top three at 3.3%. 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 Brakes | 7.9% | 412 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 5.3% | 275 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 220 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 3.8% | 199 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 3.3% | 171 |
| 6 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 3.0% | 155 |
| 7 | Suspension | 1.3% | 68 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 1.2% | 60 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Suspension | 0.9% | 45 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 0.8% | 43 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 0.6% | 30 |
| 12 | Motor Tricycles And Quadricycles | 0.6% | 29 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 0.5% | 28 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Tyres | 0.5% | 25 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 48,781 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 brakes | 1.62 | 7.9% | 412 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 1.08 | 5.3% | 275 |
| Brakes | 0.87 | 4.2% | 220 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 0.78 | 3.8% | 199 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 0.67 | 3.3% | 171 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.61 | 3.0% | 155 |
| Suspension | 0.27 | 1.3% | 68 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.24 | 1.2% | 60 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.18 | 0.9% | 45 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 0.17 | 0.8% | 43 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.12 | 0.6% | 30 |
| Motor tricycles and quadricycles | 0.11 | 0.6% | 29 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.11 | 0.5% | 28 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.10 | 0.5% | 25 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Honda Goldwing has 48,781 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 Goldwing has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 2.99% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Honda Goldwing MOT Data
The Honda Goldwing is a less common vehicle in the UK, with 5,212 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 36 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.4% and a failure rate of 14.6%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Honda Goldwing owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle brakes 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 Goldwing is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 6.3% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 6.3% of MOT failures on the Honda Goldwing. 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 lighting and signalling — 4.6% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 4.6% of MOT failures on the Honda Goldwing. 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.
Brakes — 3.3% of failures
Brakes issues account for 3.3% of MOT failures on the Honda Goldwing. 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 Goldwing?
Based on 5,212 MOT tests in our database, the Honda Goldwing has an overall pass rate of 85.4% (14.6% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Goldwing?
The top 3 reasons a Honda Goldwing fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (6.3%), 2. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (4.6%), 3. Brakes (3.3%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Honda Goldwing reliable?
With a 14.6% MOT failure rate, the Goldwing is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Goldwing?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (6.3%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (4.6%); Brakes (3.3%). 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.