Sym Vs 125 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 988 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 22.8%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Sym Vs 125 MOT Reliability Overview
The Sym Vs 125 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 988 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 7 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.2% and a failure rate of 22.8%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Sym Vs 125 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Sym Vs 125 presents for MOT with approximately 16,314 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2011 models achieve the highest pass rate at 84.4%, while 2006 models have the lowest at 65.2%. This 19.2 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Sym Vs 125 is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 15.1% 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 tyres and wheels at 12.7%. Motorcycle lighting and signalling 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 Brakes | 16.5% | 163 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 13.5% | 133 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 10.0% | 99 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 4.0% | 40 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 4.0% | 40 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 2.5% | 25 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Tyres | 2.0% | 20 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 1.2% | 12 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 1.1% | 11 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Steering | 0.8% | 8 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 0.7% | 7 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 0.4% | 4 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Suspension | 0.4% | 4 |
| 14 | Non-component Advisories | 0.2% | 2 |
| 15 | Brakes | 0.2% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 16,314 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 | 10.11 | 16.5% | 163 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 8.25 | 13.5% | 133 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 6.14 | 10.0% | 99 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 2.48 | 4.0% | 40 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 2.48 | 4.0% | 40 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 1.55 | 2.5% | 25 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 1.24 | 2.0% | 20 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.74 | 1.2% | 12 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.68 | 1.1% | 11 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.50 | 0.8% | 8 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.43 | 0.7% | 7 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.25 | 0.4% | 4 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.25 | 0.4% | 4 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.12 | 0.2% | 2 |
| Brakes | 0.12 | 0.2% | 2 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Sym Vs 125 has 16,314 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 Sym Vs 125 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 13.98% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Sym Vs 125 MOT Data
The Sym Vs 125 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 988 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 7 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.2% and a failure rate of 22.8%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Sym Vs 125 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 tyres and wheels 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 Vs 125 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 15.1% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 15.1% of MOT failures on the Sym Vs 125. 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 tyres and wheels — 12.7% of failures
Motorcycle tyres and wheels issues account for 12.7% of MOT failures on the Sym Vs 125. 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.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.7% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 9.7% of MOT failures on the Sym Vs 125. 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 Sym Vs 125?
Based on 988 MOT tests in our database, the Sym Vs 125 has an overall pass rate of 77.2% (22.8% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Sym Vs 125?
The top 3 reasons a Sym Vs 125 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (15.1%), 2. Motorcycle tyres and wheels (12.7%), 3. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (9.7%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Sym Vs 125 reliable?
With a 22.8% MOT failure rate, the Vs 125 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Sym Vs 125?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (15.1%); Motorcycle tyres and wheels (12.7%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (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.