Kawasaki Vulcan MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 752 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 18.2%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Kawasaki Vulcan MOT Reliability Overview
The Kawasaki Vulcan is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 752 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 9 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.8% and a failure rate of 18.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Kawasaki Vulcan earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Kawasaki Vulcan presents for MOT with approximately 20,891 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2008 models achieve the highest pass rate at 91.4%, while 1995 models have the lowest at 61.5%. This 29.9 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Kawasaki Vulcan is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 7.7% 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 5.7%. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors rounds out the top three at 4.1%. 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 Lighting And Signalling | 8.6% | 65 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Brakes | 5.7% | 43 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 4.1% | 31 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 3.9% | 29 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 3.6% | 27 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 2.8% | 21 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 2.3% | 17 |
| 8 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 2.3% | 17 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 2.0% | 15 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Tyres | 1.5% | 11 |
| 11 | Brakes | 1.2% | 9 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Drive System | 1.1% | 8 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 0.7% | 5 |
| 14 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.5% | 4 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 20,891 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 lighting and signalling | 4.14 | 8.6% | 65 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 2.74 | 5.7% | 43 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 1.97 | 4.1% | 31 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 1.85 | 3.9% | 29 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 1.72 | 3.6% | 27 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 1.34 | 2.8% | 21 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 1.08 | 2.3% | 17 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 1.08 | 2.3% | 17 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.95 | 2.0% | 15 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.70 | 1.5% | 11 |
| Brakes | 0.57 | 1.2% | 9 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 0.51 | 1.1% | 8 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.32 | 0.7% | 5 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.25 | 0.5% | 4 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Kawasaki Vulcan has 20,891 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 Kawasaki Vulcan has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 8.71% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Kawasaki Vulcan MOT Data
The Kawasaki Vulcan is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 752 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 9 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.8% and a failure rate of 18.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Kawasaki Vulcan 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 Vulcan is likely to perform.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 7.7% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 7.7% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Vulcan. 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 — 5.7% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 5.7% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Vulcan. 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 lamps and reflectors — 4.1% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 4.1% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Vulcan. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Kawasaki Vulcan?
Based on 752 MOT tests in our database, the Kawasaki Vulcan has an overall pass rate of 81.8% (18.2% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Kawasaki Vulcan?
The top 3 reasons a Kawasaki Vulcan fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (7.7%), 2. Motorcycle brakes (5.7%), 3. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (4.1%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Kawasaki Vulcan reliable?
With a 18.2% MOT failure rate, the Vulcan is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Kawasaki Vulcan?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (7.7%); Motorcycle brakes (5.7%); Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (4.1%). 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.