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Honda Vfr 400 MOT Pass Rate

Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,035 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 25.1%.

74.9%
Pass Rate
25.1%
Fail Rate
1,035
Total Tests
Motorcycle lighting and signalling
Top Failure

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Honda Vfr 400 MOT Reliability Overview

The Honda Vfr 400 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,035 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 12 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.9% and a failure rate of 25.1%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.

Based on this data, the Honda Vfr 400 earns a "Very Good" reliability rating. The average Honda Vfr 400 presents for MOT with approximately 37,001 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1998 models achieve the highest pass rate at 91.7%, while 1993 models have the lowest at 59.0%. This 32.7 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.

The most common MOT failure for the Honda Vfr 400 is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 15.8% 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 brakes at 13.9%. Motorcycle steering and suspension rounds out the top three at 12.5%. 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 lighting and signalling 15.8%
Motorcycle brakes 13.9%
Motorcycle steering and suspension 12.5%
⚖️ Compare

Pass Rate by Manufacture Year

90.0%
Tests Avg Mileage 22,509Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling
91.7%
Tests Avg Mileage 30,482Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors
80.0%
Tests Avg Mileage 41,923Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors
83.6%
Tests Avg Mileage 26,471Top Failure Motorcycle steering and suspension
91.1%
Tests Avg Mileage 36,951Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling
1993High Fail Rate
59.0%
Tests Avg Mileage 38,859Top Failure Motorcycle brakes
72.4%
Tests Avg Mileage 35,132Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling
68.1%
Tests Avg Mileage 36,447Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling
74.4%
Tests Avg Mileage 37,393Top Failure Motorcycle steering and suspension
73.3%
Tests Avg Mileage 43,003Top Failure Motorcycle brakes
1988High Fail Rate
61.9%
Tests Avg Mileage 33,112Top Failure Motorcycle steering and suspension
66.7%
Tests Avg Mileage 42,629Top Failure Motorcycle brakes

* 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 Lighting And Signalling19.5%202
2Motorcycle Brakes18.6%192
3Motorcycle Steering And Suspension15.8%164
4Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels8.4%87
5Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust5.4%56
6Motorcycle Drive System5.0%52
7Motorcycle Body And Structure3.4%35
8Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors3.2%33
9Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin1.9%20
10Motorcycle Structure And Attachments1.8%19
11Motorcycle Tyres0.5%5
12Motorcycle Suspension0.5%5
13Motorcycle Driving Controls0.5%5
14Identification Of The Vehicle0.4%4
15Motorcycle Steering0.4%4

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 37,001 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 lighting and signalling5.27% per 10K miMotorcycle brakes5.01% per 10K miMotorcycle steering and suspension4.28% per 10K miMotorcycle tyres and wheels2.27% per 10K miMotorcycle fuel and exhaust1.46% per 10K miMotorcycle drive system1.36% per 10K miMotorcycle body and structure0.91% per 10K miMotorcycle lamps and reflectors0.86% per 10K miMotorcycle reg plates and vin0.52% per 10K miMotorcycle structure and attachments0.50% per 10K miMotorcycle tyres0.13% per 10K miMotorcycle suspension0.13% per 10K miMotorcycle driving controls0.13% per 10K miIdentification of the vehicle0.10% per 10K miMotorcycle steering0.10% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Motorcycle lighting and signalling5.2719.5%202
Motorcycle brakes5.0118.6%192
Motorcycle steering and suspension4.2815.8%164
Motorcycle tyres and wheels2.278.4%87
Motorcycle fuel and exhaust1.465.4%56
Motorcycle drive system1.365.0%52
Motorcycle body and structure0.913.4%35
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors0.863.2%33
Motorcycle reg plates and vin0.521.9%20
Motorcycle structure and attachments0.501.8%19
Motorcycle tyres0.130.5%5
Motorcycle suspension0.130.5%5
Motorcycle driving controls0.130.5%5
Identification of the vehicle0.100.4%4
Motorcycle steering0.100.4%4

🚗 Similar Cars to Consider

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No comparable models

Mileage at MOT

37,001
Mean
41,186
Median
33,815
25th Percentile
49,899
75th Percentile

The average Honda Vfr 400 has 37,001 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.

6.78%
Fail Rate per 10K Miles
Average across all makes: 5.38%
25.1%
Overall Fail Rate
37,001 avg miles
⚠️ Average — typical failure rate

The Honda Vfr 400 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 6.78% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.

About Honda Vfr 400 MOT Data

The Honda Vfr 400 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,035 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 12 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.9% and a failure rate of 25.1%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.

For Honda Vfr 400 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 brakes 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 Vfr 400 is likely to perform.

Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 15.8% of failures

Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 15.8% of MOT failures on the Honda Vfr 400. 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 — 13.9% of failures

Motorcycle brakes issues account for 13.9% of MOT failures on the Honda Vfr 400. 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 steering and suspension — 12.5% of failures

Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 12.5% of MOT failures on the Honda Vfr 400. 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 Vfr 400?

Based on 1,035 MOT tests in our database, the Honda Vfr 400 has an overall pass rate of 74.9% (25.1% fail rate).

What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Vfr 400?

The top 3 reasons a Honda Vfr 400 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (15.8%), 2. Motorcycle brakes (13.9%), 3. Motorcycle steering and suspension (12.5%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.

Is the Honda Vfr 400 reliable?

With a 25.1% MOT failure rate, the Vfr 400 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.

What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Vfr 400?

Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (15.8%); Motorcycle brakes (13.9%); Motorcycle steering and suspension (12.5%). 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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