1988 Honda Vt500 MOT Pass Rate
Pass rate for Vt500 models manufactured in 1988, based on 615 real MOT test results.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
This page shows all Vt500 cars tested in 1988. Want to see how cars built in 1988 hold up over time?
View 1988 Honda Vt500 vintage page → (64.3% current pass rate)1988 Honda Vt500 MOT Analysis
The 1988 Honda Vt500 has an MOT pass rate of 80.0% based on 615 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 39,259 miles on the odometer. With a 20.0% failure rate, the 1988 Vt500 is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.
The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1988 Honda Vt500 is Motorcycle lamps and reflectors, responsible for 1.5% of failures. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs range from £5–50. Brakes is the second most common issue at 1.3%. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment follows at 0.7%.
Top failures specific to 1988 models only. The overall Vt500 page may show different rankings.
What Fails Most
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 1.5% | 9 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.3% | 8 |
| 3 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 0.7% | 4 |
| 4 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 0.3% | 2 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Suspension | 0.3% | 2 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 0.2% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 39,259 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 lamps and reflectors | 0.37 | 1.5% | 9 |
| Brakes | 0.33 | 1.3% | 8 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.17 | 0.7% | 4 |
| Body & Structure | 0.08 | 0.3% | 2 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.08 | 0.3% | 2 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.04 | 0.2% | 1 |
Mileage Statistics
Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.
About This Data
The 1988 Honda Vt500 has an MOT pass rate of 80.0% based on 615 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 39,259 miles on the odometer. With a 20.0% failure rate, the 1988 Vt500 is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.
If you own or are considering buying a 1988 Honda Vt500, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to motorcycle lamps and reflectors: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test. With relatively low average mileage of 39,259 miles, many of these vehicles are still in good mechanical condition.
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 1.5% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 1.5% of MOT failures on 1988 Honda Vt500 models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Brakes — 1.3% of failures
Brakes issues account for 1.3% of MOT failures on 1988 Honda Vt500 models. 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).
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 0.7% of failures
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 0.7% of MOT failures on 1988 Honda Vt500 models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.