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Pass Your MOT

1979 Honda Xl MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for Xl models manufactured in 1979, based on 57 real MOT test results.

80.7%
Pass Rate
19.3%
Fail Rate
57
Total Tests
15,424
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

1979 Honda Xl MOT Analysis

The 1979 Honda Xl has an MOT pass rate of 80.7% based on 57 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 15,424 miles on the odometer. With a 19.3% failure rate, the 1979 Xl is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1979 Honda Xl is Motorcycle lamps and reflectors, responsible for 3.5% 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. Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) is the second most common issue at 1.8%. Motorcycle suspension follows at 1.8%.

⚠ Based on limited data (57 tests)

Top failures specific to 1979 models only. The overall Xl page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

Motorcycle lamps and reflectors 3.5%
Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) 1.8%
Motorcycle suspension 1.8%

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 Lamps And Reflectors3.5%2
2Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn)1.8%1
3Motorcycle Suspension1.8%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 15,424 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 lamps and reflectors2.27% per 10K miMotorcycle audible warning (Horn)1.14% per 10K miMotorcycle suspension1.14% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors2.273.5%2
Motorcycle audible warning (Horn)1.141.8%1
Motorcycle suspension1.141.8%1

Mileage Statistics

15,424
Mean
9,405
Median
5,121
25th Percentile
16,499
75th Percentile
12.51% failures per 10K miles

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

About This Data

The 1979 Honda Xl has an MOT pass rate of 80.7% based on 57 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 15,424 miles on the odometer. With a 19.3% failure rate, the 1979 Xl is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 1979 Honda Xl, 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 15,424 miles, many of these vehicles are still in good mechanical condition.

Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 3.5% of failures

Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 3.5% of MOT failures on 1979 Honda Xl 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.

Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) — 1.8% of failures

Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) issues account for 1.8% of MOT failures on 1979 Honda Xl models. Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) 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 suspension — 1.8% of failures

Motorcycle suspension issues account for 1.8% of MOT failures on 1979 Honda Xl models. 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.

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

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