Honda Xl125v MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 21,871 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 29.4%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Honda Xl125v MOT Reliability Overview
The Honda Xl125v is a relatively common sight on UK roads, with 21,871 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 12 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.6% and a failure rate of 29.4%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Honda Xl125v earns a "Very Good" reliability rating. The average Honda Xl125v presents for MOT with approximately 20,005 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2010 models achieve the highest pass rate at 78.3%, while 2002 models have the lowest at 65.0%. This 13.3 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Honda Xl125v is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 24.6% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Motorcycle steering and suspension at 13.4%. Motorcycle lighting and signalling rounds out the top three at 11.2%. 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
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Tracking how each manufacture year's MOT pass rate changes as the car ages. Showing 8 vintages — click year chips to highlight.
Multi-line chart showing how different Honda Xl125v vintages degrade over time, from age 3 to 20 years.
Only vintages with 100+ tests in at least 3 different test years are shown. Fleet average is the UK-wide pass rate for all cars at each age.
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Honda Xl125v. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 20 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Honda Xl125v ages relatively gracefully. The failure rate increase of 18% after warranty is below average, suggesting good long-term reliability. Peak failure occurs at age 12 (32.6% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
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 Brakes | 28.8% | 6,297 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 16.3% | 3,559 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 12.5% | 2,731 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Drive System | 10.4% | 2,284 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 7.4% | 1,627 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 5.1% | 1,123 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 5.1% | 1,121 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Suspension | 3.6% | 778 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 2.5% | 539 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Tyres | 2.1% | 457 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Steering | 2.0% | 442 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 1.2% | 260 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 0.7% | 152 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 0.4% | 81 |
| 15 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 0.4% | 77 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 20,005 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 brakes | 14.39 | 28.8% | 6,297 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 8.13 | 16.3% | 3,559 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 6.24 | 12.5% | 2,731 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 5.22 | 10.4% | 2,284 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 3.72 | 7.4% | 1,627 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 2.57 | 5.1% | 1,123 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 2.56 | 5.1% | 1,121 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 1.78 | 3.6% | 778 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 1.23 | 2.5% | 539 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 1.04 | 2.1% | 457 |
| Motorcycle steering | 1.01 | 2.0% | 442 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.59 | 1.2% | 260 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.35 | 0.7% | 152 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.19 | 0.4% | 81 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.18 | 0.4% | 77 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Honda Xl125v has 20,005 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 Xl125v has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 14.70% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Honda Xl125v MOT Data
The Honda Xl125v is a relatively common sight on UK roads, with 21,871 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 12 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.6% and a failure rate of 29.4%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Honda Xl125v owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle brakes and motorcycle steering and suspension 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 Xl125v is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 24.6% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 24.6% of MOT failures on the Honda Xl125v. 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 — 13.4% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 13.4% of MOT failures on the Honda Xl125v. 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 — 11.2% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 11.2% of MOT failures on the Honda Xl125v. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Xl125v?
Based on 21,871 MOT tests in our database, the Honda Xl125v has an overall pass rate of 70.6% (29.4% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Xl125v?
The top 3 reasons a Honda Xl125v fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (24.6%), 2. Motorcycle steering and suspension (13.4%), 3. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (11.2%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Honda Xl125v reliable?
With a 29.4% MOT failure rate, the Xl125v is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Xl125v?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (24.6%); Motorcycle steering and suspension (13.4%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (11.2%). 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.