Honda Monkey Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda Monkey car check
Is the Honda Monkey reliable? We analysed 941 real MOT tests across 210 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda Monkey? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda Monkey is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam and registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Monkey.
Honda Monkey — specs & performance
Verified from DVLA & DVSA recordsA snapshot of the engine, performance, dimensions, fuel economy and running costs for the Honda Monkey — drawn from official DVLA vehicle records and the DVSA fuel-economy database.
Engine & Performance
- Engine size
- 49cc
- Fuel type
- Petrol
Body & Dimensions
- Body type
- Not Available
- Common colour
- White
- Wheel plan
- 2 Wheel
Fuel Economy
Tax & Emissions
- Emission class
- 3
Honda Monkey Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda Monkey. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda Monkey MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda Monkey to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda Monkey Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda Monkey fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda Monkey Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda Monkey owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda Monkey MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Monkey year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 53 | 92.5% | 289 | 503 | 3,169 |
| 2007 | 93 | 96.8% | 660 | 1,296 | 4,267 |
| 2004 | 66 | 97.0% | 1,238 | 3,616 | 5,473 |
| 2002 | 72 | 94.4% | 2,658 | 3,814 | 4,931 |
How Long Does a Honda Monkey Last?
Based on 210 Honda Monkey vehicles on UK roads.
Honda Monkey Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda Monkey MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Monkey
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
97.0% MOT pass rate from 66 tests
92.5% MOT pass rate from 53 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda Monkey is 2004, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 97.0% across 66 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 92.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda Monkey Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Monkey THIS CAR | 91.7% | 941 | 1,997 mi | 24 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 |
| Cupra Formentor VZ2 PHEV S-a | 90.1% | 1,385 | 34,984 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Monkey outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda Monkey 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.
Check a specific Honda MonkeyShould you buy a used Honda Monkey?
The Honda Monkey has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.7% across 941 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 Monkey are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (6 recorded failures), headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam (4), and registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (2). 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 Monkey owner drives around 100 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 Monkey models stay on UK roads for around 24 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.