Kymco Pulsar MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,962 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 35.9%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Kymco Pulsar MOT Reliability Overview
The Kymco Pulsar is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,962 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 14 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.1% and a failure rate of 35.9%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Kymco Pulsar earns a "Average" reliability rating. The average Kymco Pulsar presents for MOT with approximately 14,065 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2016 models achieve the highest pass rate at 72.5%, while 2001 models have the lowest at 55.3%. This 17.2 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Kymco Pulsar is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 22.8% 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 16.0%. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors rounds out the top three at 14.4%. 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 | 27.5% | 540 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Brakes | 16.7% | 327 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 14.9% | 292 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Drive System | 14.8% | 291 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 14.4% | 283 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 12.0% | 236 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 6.2% | 122 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Suspension | 4.9% | 97 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Tyres | 3.7% | 72 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 3.3% | 65 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Steering | 3.3% | 65 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 2.4% | 48 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 1.9% | 38 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 0.6% | 12 |
| 15 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.5% | 9 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 14,065 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 | 19.57 | 27.5% | 540 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 11.85 | 16.7% | 327 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 10.58 | 14.9% | 292 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 10.55 | 14.8% | 291 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 10.26 | 14.4% | 283 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 8.55 | 12.0% | 236 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 4.42 | 6.2% | 122 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 3.52 | 4.9% | 97 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 2.61 | 3.7% | 72 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 2.36 | 3.3% | 65 |
| Motorcycle steering | 2.36 | 3.3% | 65 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 1.74 | 2.4% | 48 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 1.38 | 1.9% | 38 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.43 | 0.6% | 12 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.33 | 0.5% | 9 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Kymco Pulsar has 14,065 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 Kymco Pulsar has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 25.52% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Kymco Pulsar MOT Data
The Kymco Pulsar is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,962 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 14 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.1% and a failure rate of 35.9%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Kymco Pulsar owners, these results suggest average reliability — some preparation before MOT can improve pass chances. 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 Pulsar is likely to perform.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 22.8% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 22.8% of MOT failures on the Kymco Pulsar. 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 — 16.0% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 16.0% of MOT failures on the Kymco Pulsar. 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 — 14.4% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 14.4% of MOT failures on the Kymco Pulsar. 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 Kymco Pulsar?
Based on 1,962 MOT tests in our database, the Kymco Pulsar has an overall pass rate of 64.1% (35.9% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Kymco Pulsar?
The top 3 reasons a Kymco Pulsar fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (22.8%), 2. Motorcycle brakes (16.0%), 3. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (14.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Kymco Pulsar reliable?
With a 35.9% MOT failure rate, the Pulsar is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Kymco Pulsar?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (22.8%); Motorcycle brakes (16.0%); Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (14.4%). 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.