Kawasaki Z550 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,277 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 22.2%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Kawasaki Z550 MOT Reliability Overview
The Kawasaki Z550 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,277 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 8 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.8% and a failure rate of 22.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Kawasaki Z550 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Kawasaki Z550 presents for MOT with approximately 29,338 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1987 models achieve the highest pass rate at 87.8%, while 1984 models have the lowest at 73.6%. This 14.2 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Kawasaki Z550 is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 11.8% 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 lighting and signalling at 11.7%. Motorcycle steering and suspension rounds out the top three at 9.7%. 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
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 | 14.6% | 186 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Brakes | 14.1% | 180 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 12.8% | 163 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 3.5% | 45 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 3.2% | 41 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 3.1% | 39 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Drive System | 3.0% | 38 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 2.3% | 30 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 1.6% | 21 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 1.2% | 15 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Steering | 1.2% | 15 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Suspension | 0.9% | 11 |
| 13 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.6% | 8 |
| 14 | Non-component Advisories | 0.5% | 7 |
| 15 | Brakes | 0.5% | 7 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 29,338 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 | 4.96 | 14.6% | 186 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 4.80 | 14.1% | 180 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 4.35 | 12.8% | 163 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 1.20 | 3.5% | 45 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 1.09 | 3.2% | 41 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 1.04 | 3.1% | 39 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 1.01 | 3.0% | 38 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.80 | 2.3% | 30 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.56 | 1.6% | 21 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.40 | 1.2% | 15 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.40 | 1.2% | 15 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.29 | 0.9% | 11 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.21 | 0.6% | 8 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.19 | 0.5% | 7 |
| Brakes | 0.19 | 0.5% | 7 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Kawasaki Z550 has 29,338 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 Z550 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 7.57% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Kawasaki Z550 MOT Data
The Kawasaki Z550 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,277 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 8 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.8% and a failure rate of 22.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Kawasaki Z550 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 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 Z550 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 11.8% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 11.8% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Z550. 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 lighting and signalling — 11.7% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 11.7% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Z550. 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 steering and suspension — 9.7% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 9.7% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Z550. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Kawasaki Z550?
Based on 1,277 MOT tests in our database, the Kawasaki Z550 has an overall pass rate of 77.8% (22.2% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Kawasaki Z550?
The top 3 reasons a Kawasaki Z550 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (11.8%), 2. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (11.7%), 3. Motorcycle steering and suspension (9.7%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Kawasaki Z550 reliable?
With a 22.2% MOT failure rate, the Z550 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Kawasaki Z550?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (11.8%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (11.7%); Motorcycle steering and suspension (9.7%). 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.