Sym Xs 125 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,177 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 36.7%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Sym Xs 125 MOT Reliability Overview
The Sym Xs 125 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,177 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 63.3% and a failure rate of 36.7%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Sym Xs 125 earns a "Average" reliability rating. The average Sym Xs 125 presents for MOT with approximately 10,997 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2011 models achieve the highest pass rate at 64.4%, while 2013 models have the lowest at 61.1%. This 3.3 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Sym Xs 125 is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 30.1% 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 steering and suspension at 23.8%. Motorcycle drive system rounds out the top three at 18.1%. 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
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 | 30.1% | 354 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 23.9% | 281 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Drive System | 18.3% | 215 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Brakes | 17.7% | 208 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 10.8% | 127 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 8.2% | 97 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 6.7% | 79 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 6.4% | 75 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 6.2% | 73 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Suspension | 4.3% | 51 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Steering | 2.8% | 33 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Tyres | 2.0% | 23 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 1.4% | 17 |
| 14 | Non-component Advisories | 0.7% | 8 |
| 15 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 0.5% | 6 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 10,997 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 | 27.35 | 30.1% | 354 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 21.71 | 23.9% | 281 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 16.61 | 18.3% | 215 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 16.07 | 17.7% | 208 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 9.81 | 10.8% | 127 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 7.49 | 8.2% | 97 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 6.10 | 6.7% | 79 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 5.79 | 6.4% | 75 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 5.64 | 6.2% | 73 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 3.94 | 4.3% | 51 |
| Motorcycle steering | 2.55 | 2.8% | 33 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 1.78 | 2.0% | 23 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 1.31 | 1.4% | 17 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.62 | 0.7% | 8 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.46 | 0.5% | 6 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Sym Xs 125 has 10,997 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 Xs 125 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 33.37% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Sym Xs 125 MOT Data
The Sym Xs 125 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,177 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 63.3% and a failure rate of 36.7%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Sym Xs 125 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 steering and suspension 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 Xs 125 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 30.1% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 30.1% of MOT failures on the Sym Xs 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.
Motorcycle steering and suspension — 23.8% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 23.8% of MOT failures on the Sym Xs 125. 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.
Motorcycle drive system — 18.1% of failures
Motorcycle drive system issues account for 18.1% of MOT failures on the Sym Xs 125. Motorcycle drive system 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 Xs 125?
Based on 1,177 MOT tests in our database, the Sym Xs 125 has an overall pass rate of 63.3% (36.7% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Sym Xs 125?
The top 3 reasons a Sym Xs 125 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (30.1%), 2. Motorcycle steering and suspension (23.8%), 3. Motorcycle drive system (18.1%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Sym Xs 125 reliable?
With a 36.7% MOT failure rate, the Xs 125 is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Sym Xs 125?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (30.1%); Motorcycle steering and suspension (23.8%); Motorcycle drive system (18.1%). 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.