Photo: AVMOTO, CC BY-SA 4.0
Yamaha
2,358 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where WRs pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's in line with the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models.
Pass
77.6%
Pass-after-fix
8.8%
Fail
13.4%
Avg miles
12,773
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 2,278 tests
Pass rate climbs 7.4 points across the cohorts — newer WR examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
76.3%
Fail
14.7%
PRS
8.7%
Avg mileage at test
15,108 mi
Pass
83.7%
Fail
6.4%
PRS
9.6%
Avg mileage at test
2,585 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 1,749 MOT tests, the Wr returns 78.5% first-time pass — roughly in line with the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a non-functioning shock absorber. A missing rear reflector and a stop-lamp out round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 12,376, 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.
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Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
41 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
32 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
32 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
A footrest missing or insecure
28 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
Rate of flashing not between 60 and 120 times per minute
25 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
Audible warning not working
24 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn
24 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
23 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
23 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
21 occurrences · 0.9% 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.
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Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 7.4-point gap between bands means the year you buy Yamaha WR has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.
Best band to buy
83.7%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 83.7% — a 7.4-point improvement. Tests in this band average 2,585 miles — roughly 13K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: not working, not working — 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
76.3%
Pre-2018 registration
On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 76.3% pass rate against a fleet average of 83.7% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: missing, has a serious fluid leak, and missing. Average mileage on test for this band is 15,108 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (83.7% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (76.3% pass). That's a 7.4-point spread across 1,903 older tests and 375 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.
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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 WR 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.
