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Honda 400/4 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda 400/4 car check

Is the Honda 400/4 reliable? We analysed 891 real MOT tests across 139 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 891 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.2%
Typical Mileage
30,524mi
Annual Mileage
213mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
51yrs

The Honda 400/4 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. and horn not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda 400/4.

Honda 400/4 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda 400/4. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Browse all 139 Honda 400/4 registrations

Honda 400/4 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda 400/4 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

90.3%
1979
85.6%
1978
90%
1977
82.9%
1976
81.3%
1975

Honda 400/4 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda 400/4 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 11
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 6
Horn not working 6
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 6
Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instruction/s 5
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 4
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when switched on 4
Tyre is incorrectly seated on the wheel rim 4
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 3
Direction indicator not working 3

Honda 400/4 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda 400/4 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
77 mi/yr
Typical
213 mi/yr
Average
575 mi/yr
Heavy usage
568 mi/yr

Honda 400/4 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda 400/4 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1979 62 90.3% 15,014 17,288 28,084
1978 188 85.6% 20,841 26,394 38,115
1977 230 90.0% 10,242 20,845 40,391
1976 251 82.9% 27,343 40,953 55,166
1975 107 81.3% 24,696 30,524 45,927

How Long Does a Honda 400/4 Last?

Based on 139 Honda 400/4 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
36.2 years
Median
39.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
51 years

Honda 400/4 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda 400/4 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
30,524 mi
75th Percentile
42,857 mi
95th Percentile
65,413 mi
Max Recorded
400,558 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda 400/4

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1979

90.3% MOT pass rate from 62 tests

Year to avoid
1975

81.3% MOT pass rate from 107 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda 400/4 is 1979, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.3% across 62 tests. The 1975 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda 400/4 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda 400/4 THIS CAR 86.2% 891 30,524 mi 51 yrs
Honda Civic 73.7% 9,391,580 74,987 mi 34 yrs
Honda Jazz 81% 5,740,892 48,635 mi 24 yrs
Honda Cr-v 78.5% 4,177,643 80,499 mi 29 yrs
Ducati 1199 Panigale Tricolore 92.7% 948 4,672 mi 14 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda 400/4 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda 400/4 you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Honda 400/4?

The Honda 400/4 has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.2% across 891 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Honda 400/4 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (11 recorded failures), roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. (6), and horn not working (6). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Honda 400/4 owner drives around 213 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Honda 400/4 models stay on UK roads for around 51 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Honda 400/4 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda 400/4 reliable?
Based on 891 MOT tests, the Honda 400/4 has a 86.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda 400/4?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%., and horn not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda 400/4 do per year?
The typical Honda 400/4 does around 213 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda 400/4 last?
Most Honda 400/4 models stay on UK roads for around 51 years based on our analysis of 139 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda 400/4?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Honda 400/4?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda 400/4 is 1979 with a 90.3% pass rate across 62 tests.