Honda
6,720 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Cbfs pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 4.2 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
81.7%
Pass-after-fix
6.6%
Fail
11.4%
Avg miles
15,207
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Trim variants
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 6,714 tests
Pass rate climbs 7.8 points across the cohorts — newer Cbf examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
77.9%
Fail
13.6%
PRS
8.1%
Avg mileage at test
18,839 mi
Pass
85.8%
Fail
9.0%
PRS
4.9%
Avg mileage at test
11,230 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 5,335 MOT tests, the Cbf returns 82.1% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is tyre tread under the limit. Transmission belt, chain and brake pads worn below 1.0 mm round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 13,696, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
10–26
out of 50
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Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
101 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn
90 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
65 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
59 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
58 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
Steering head bearings excessively stiff, notchy, or with excessive wear or play
56 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
51 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
42 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
A footrest missing or insecure
39 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn
38 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£140–£255
If every one of this Cbf's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 7.8-point gap between bands means the year you buy Honda Cbf has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.
Best band to buy
85.8%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 85.8% — a 7.8-point improvement. Tests in this band average 11,230 miles — roughly 8K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, excessively loose — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. The stricter post-2018 MOT test rules meant manufacturers had to tighten up emissions and electrical checks, but this band still shows far fewer major failures on suspension and bodywork than the older fleet.
Band to be cautious about
77.9%
Pre-2018 registration
On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 77.9% pass rate against a fleet average of 85.8% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, excessively loose, and too high. Average mileage on test for this band is 18,839 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (85.8% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (77.9% pass). That's a 7.8-point spread across 3,513 older tests and 3,201 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Draper
Draper Drain Plug Key, 3/8 Square x 3/8 Sq. Dr.
£15.39
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Hycote
Hycote Honda Nighthawk Black Pearlescent Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
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Hycote Honda Milano Red Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
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Hycote
Hycote Honda Satin Silver Metallic Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
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Click Mechanic · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
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Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Cbf and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
