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1988 Honda Shadow MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for Shadow models manufactured in 1988, based on 139 real MOT test results.

81.3%
Pass Rate
18.7%
Fail Rate
139
Total Tests
26,363
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

1988 Honda Shadow MOT Analysis

The 1988 Honda Shadow has an MOT pass rate of 81.3% based on 139 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 26,363 miles on the odometer. With a 18.7% failure rate, the 1988 Shadow is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1988 Honda Shadow is Motorcycle structure and attachments, responsible for 2.2% of failures. Motorcycle structure and attachments 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 range from £100–400. Motorcycle steering is the second most common issue at 0.7%. Motorcycle tyres follows at 0.7%.

Top failures specific to 1988 models only. The overall Shadow page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

Motorcycle structure and attachments 2.2%
Motorcycle steering 0.7%
Motorcycle tyres 0.7%

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 Structure And Attachments2.2%3
2Motorcycle Steering0.7%1
3Motorcycle Tyres0.7%1
4Non-component Advisories0.7%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 26,363 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 structure and attachments0.82% per 10K miMotorcycle steering0.27% per 10K miMotorcycle tyres0.27% per 10K miNon-component advisories0.27% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Motorcycle structure and attachments0.822.2%3
Motorcycle steering0.270.7%1
Motorcycle tyres0.270.7%1
Non-component advisories0.270.7%1

Mileage Statistics

26,363
Mean
23,455
Median
18,449
25th Percentile
30,037
75th Percentile
7.09% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 1988 Honda Shadow has an MOT pass rate of 81.3% based on 139 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 26,363 miles on the odometer. With a 18.7% failure rate, the 1988 Shadow is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 1988 Honda Shadow, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to motorcycle structure and attachments: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights. With relatively low average mileage of 26,363 miles, many of these vehicles are still in good mechanical condition.

Motorcycle structure and attachments — 2.2% of failures

Motorcycle structure and attachments issues account for 2.2% of MOT failures on 1988 Honda Shadow models. Motorcycle structure and attachments 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 — 0.7% of failures

Motorcycle steering issues account for 0.7% of MOT failures on 1988 Honda Shadow models. Steering failures include excessive play in the steering wheel, leaking power steering fluid, worn track rod ends, and damaged steering rack. These affect vehicle control and are closely related to suspension wear. Typical repair costs: £150–600. Pre-MOT check: Check for excessive steering wheel play (more than a few inches of free movement). Listen for whining from the power steering pump. Look for fluid leaks under the car near the front wheels.

Motorcycle tyres — 0.7% of failures

Motorcycle tyres issues account for 0.7% of MOT failures on 1988 Honda Shadow models. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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