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Honda Sh50 MOT Pass Rate

Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 537 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 27.7%.

72.3%
Pass Rate
27.7%
Fail Rate
537
Total Tests
Motorcycle brakes
Top Failure

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Honda Sh50 MOT Reliability Overview

The Honda Sh50 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 537 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 10 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.3% and a failure rate of 27.7%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.

Based on this data, the Honda Sh50 earns a "Very Good" reliability rating. The average Honda Sh50 presents for MOT with approximately 13,793 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1993 models achieve the highest pass rate at 90.0%, while 2002 models have the lowest at 60.4%. This 29.6 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.

The most common MOT failure for the Honda Sh50 is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 16.2% 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 15.6%. Motorcycle steering and suspension rounds out the top three at 11.0%. 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

Motorcycle brakes 16.2%
Motorcycle lighting and signalling 15.6%
Motorcycle steering and suspension 11.0%
⚖️ Compare

Pass Rate by Manufacture Year

2002High Fail Rate
60.4%
Tests Avg Mileage 12,795Top Failure Motorcycle brakes
76.2%
Tests Avg Mileage 10,999Top Failure Motorcycle tyres
68.8%
Tests Avg Mileage 12,714Top Failure Motorcycle brakes
73.0%
Tests Avg Mileage 11,038Top Failure Motorcycle brakes
68.4%
Tests Avg Mileage 17,141Top Failure Motorcycle brakes
69.4%
Tests Avg Mileage 15,291Top Failure Motorcycle brakes
77.4%
Tests Avg Mileage 16,277Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling
68.8%
Tests Avg Mileage 12,239Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling
71.4%
Tests Avg Mileage 18,895Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling
90.0%
Tests Avg Mileage 14,286Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling

* 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
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Motorcycle Brakes20.9%112
2Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling19.0%102
3Motorcycle Steering And Suspension17.9%96
4Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels10.6%57
5Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors3.7%20
6Motorcycle Body And Structure2.0%11
7Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust2.0%11
8Motorcycle Tyres1.9%10
9Motorcycle Suspension1.5%8
10Motorcycle Structure And Attachments1.1%6
11Motorcycle Steering0.9%5
12Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin0.6%3
13Motorcycle Driving Controls0.4%2
14Identification Of The Vehicle0.2%1
15Non-component Advisories0.2%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 13,793 mi

For 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.

Motorcycle brakes15.12% per 10K miMotorcycle lighting and signalling13.77% per 10K miMotorcycle steering and suspension12.96% per 10K miMotorcycle tyres and wheels7.70% per 10K miMotorcycle lamps and reflectors2.70% per 10K miMotorcycle body and structure1.49% per 10K miMotorcycle fuel and exhaust1.49% per 10K miMotorcycle tyres1.35% per 10K miMotorcycle suspension1.08% per 10K miMotorcycle structure and attachments0.81% per 10K miMotorcycle steering0.68% per 10K miMotorcycle reg plates and vin0.41% per 10K miMotorcycle driving controls0.27% per 10K miIdentification of the vehicle0.14% per 10K miNon-component advisories0.14% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Motorcycle brakes15.1220.9%112
Motorcycle lighting and signalling13.7719.0%102
Motorcycle steering and suspension12.9617.9%96
Motorcycle tyres and wheels7.7010.6%57
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors2.703.7%20
Motorcycle body and structure1.492.0%11
Motorcycle fuel and exhaust1.492.0%11
Motorcycle tyres1.351.9%10
Motorcycle suspension1.081.5%8
Motorcycle structure and attachments0.811.1%6
Motorcycle steering0.680.9%5
Motorcycle reg plates and vin0.410.6%3
Motorcycle driving controls0.270.4%2
Identification of the vehicle0.140.2%1
Non-component advisories0.140.2%1

🚗 Similar Cars to Consider

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No comparable models

Mileage at MOT

13,793
Mean
11,153
Median
5,847
25th Percentile
18,940
75th Percentile

The average Honda Sh50 has 13,793 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.

20.08%
Fail Rate per 10K Miles
Average across all makes: 5.38%
27.7%
Overall Fail Rate
13,793 avg miles
🔴 Poor — above average failure rate

The Honda Sh50 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 20.08% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.

About Honda Sh50 MOT Data

The Honda Sh50 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 537 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 10 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.3% and a failure rate of 27.7%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.

For Honda Sh50 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 Sh50 is likely to perform.

Motorcycle brakes — 16.2% of failures

Motorcycle brakes issues account for 16.2% of MOT failures on the Honda Sh50. 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 — 15.6% of failures

Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 15.6% of MOT failures on the Honda Sh50. 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 steering and suspension — 11.0% of failures

Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 11.0% of MOT failures on the Honda Sh50. 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 Honda Sh50?

Based on 537 MOT tests in our database, the Honda Sh50 has an overall pass rate of 72.3% (27.7% fail rate).

What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Sh50?

The top 3 reasons a Honda Sh50 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (16.2%), 2. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (15.6%), 3. Motorcycle steering and suspension (11.0%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.

Is the Honda Sh50 reliable?

With a 27.7% MOT failure rate, the Sh50 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.

What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Sh50?

Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (16.2%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (15.6%); Motorcycle steering and suspension (11.0%). 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.

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