Honda C90 (1996)

823 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.7% first-time pass rate

1996 Honda C90

CarHunch analysed 823 real MOT records for the 1996 Honda C90. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Average reliability 3.7% above UK average
83.7%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
18,303
typical mileage
11,492–26,991 middle half
10.6%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.28
avg MOT failures per car
over 7.5 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1996 Honda C90

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Honda C90

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (100%) 820 83.7% 1.28
Other (0%) 3 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 1996 Honda C90 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

11,492
low mileage
18,303
typical
26,991
high mileage

Half of all 1996 Honda C90 vehicles fall between 11,492 and 26,991 miles.

1996 Honda C90 — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 95 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (38% of peak).

251 95 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

7.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.28
Avg failures per vehicle
2.8
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1996 Honda C90

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 38.1%
    Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 18.9%
    Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 18.9%
    Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm
  • 14.9%
    Rear shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect
  • 11.5%
    Wheel alignment slightly misaligned.
  • 10.7%
    Front Wheel has a slightly distorted bead rim.
  • 10.4%
    Horn not working
  • 9.6%
    Drive chain slightly loose

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1996. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Honda C90?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Honda C90:

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003