Honda Vt500ef MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 163 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 24.5%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Honda Vt500ef MOT Reliability Overview
The Honda Vt500ef is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 163 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.5% and a failure rate of 24.5%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Honda Vt500ef earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Honda Vt500ef presents for MOT with approximately 39,472 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1985 models achieve the highest pass rate at 81.5%, while 1988 models have the lowest at 72.7%. This 8.8 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Honda Vt500ef is Motorcycle steering and suspension, affecting 9.2% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Motorcycle lighting and signalling at 8.0%. Motorcycle tyres and wheels rounds out the top three at 5.5%. 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
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 Steering And Suspension | 14.1% | 23 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 9.8% | 16 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 5.5% | 9 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 4.9% | 8 |
| 5 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 4.3% | 7 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Brakes | 3.7% | 6 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 2.5% | 4 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.5% | 4 |
| 9 | Brakes | 1.8% | 3 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 1.8% | 3 |
| 11 | Suspension | 1.2% | 2 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 1.2% | 2 |
| 13 | Items Not Tested | 0.6% | 1 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Suspension | 0.6% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 39,472 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 steering and suspension | 3.57 | 14.1% | 23 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 2.49 | 9.8% | 16 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 1.40 | 5.5% | 9 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 1.24 | 4.9% | 8 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 1.09 | 4.3% | 7 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 0.93 | 3.7% | 6 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.62 | 2.5% | 4 |
| Tyres | 0.62 | 2.5% | 4 |
| Brakes | 0.47 | 1.8% | 3 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.47 | 1.8% | 3 |
| Suspension | 0.31 | 1.2% | 2 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.31 | 1.2% | 2 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.16 | 0.6% | 1 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.16 | 0.6% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Honda Vt500ef has 39,472 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 Vt500ef has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 6.21% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Honda Vt500ef MOT Data
The Honda Vt500ef is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 163 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.5% and a failure rate of 24.5%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Honda Vt500ef owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle steering and suspension 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 Vt500ef is likely to perform.
Motorcycle steering and suspension — 9.2% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 9.2% of MOT failures on the Honda Vt500ef. 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.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 8.0% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 8.0% of MOT failures on the Honda Vt500ef. 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 tyres and wheels — 5.5% of failures
Motorcycle tyres and wheels issues account for 5.5% of MOT failures on the Honda Vt500ef. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Vt500ef?
Based on 163 MOT tests in our database, the Honda Vt500ef has an overall pass rate of 75.5% (24.5% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Vt500ef?
The top 3 reasons a Honda Vt500ef fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle steering and suspension (9.2%), 2. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (8.0%), 3. Motorcycle tyres and wheels (5.5%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Honda Vt500ef reliable?
With a 24.5% MOT failure rate, the Vt500ef is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Vt500ef?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle steering and suspension (9.2%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (8.0%); Motorcycle tyres and wheels (5.5%). 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.