Kawasaki Zg MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 2,095 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 8.0%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Kawasaki Zg MOT Reliability Overview
The Kawasaki Zg is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,095 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 7 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 92.0% and a failure rate of 8.0%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Kawasaki Zg earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Kawasaki Zg presents for MOT with approximately 18,838 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2018 models achieve the highest pass rate at 95.2%, while 2015 models have the lowest at 90.0%. This 5.2 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Kawasaki Zg is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 4.1% 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 lamps and reflectors at 4.0%. Motorcycle tyres rounds out the top three at 3.2%. 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
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Kawasaki Zg. 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 9 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Kawasaki Zg ages relatively gracefully. The failure rate increase of 14% after warranty is below average, suggesting good long-term reliability. Peak failure occurs at age 9 (12.1% 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 | 4.1% | 86 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 4.0% | 84 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Tyres | 3.2% | 66 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Suspension | 1.0% | 20 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 0.6% | 12 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Steering | 0.4% | 9 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 0.4% | 8 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 0.3% | 7 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 0.2% | 5 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Wheels | 0.1% | 3 |
| 11 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.1% | 2 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 0.1% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 18,838 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 | 2.18 | 4.1% | 86 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 2.13 | 4.0% | 84 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 1.67 | 3.2% | 66 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.51 | 1.0% | 20 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.30 | 0.6% | 12 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.23 | 0.4% | 9 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 0.20 | 0.4% | 8 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.18 | 0.3% | 7 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 0.13 | 0.2% | 5 |
| Motorcycle wheels | 0.08 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.05 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 0.05 | 0.1% | 2 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Kawasaki Zg has 18,838 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 Zg has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.25% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Kawasaki Zg MOT Data
The Kawasaki Zg is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,095 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 7 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 92.0% and a failure rate of 8.0%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Kawasaki Zg 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 lamps and reflectors 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 Zg is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 4.1% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 4.1% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Zg. 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 — 4.0% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 4.0% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Zg. 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 tyres — 3.2% of failures
Motorcycle tyres issues account for 3.2% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Zg. 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 Kawasaki Zg?
Based on 2,095 MOT tests in our database, the Kawasaki Zg has an overall pass rate of 92.0% (8.0% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Kawasaki Zg?
The top 3 reasons a Kawasaki Zg fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (4.1%), 2. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (4.0%), 3. Motorcycle tyres (3.2%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Kawasaki Zg reliable?
With a 8.0% MOT failure rate, the Zg is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Kawasaki Zg?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (4.1%); Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (4.0%); Motorcycle tyres (3.2%). 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.