Yamaha MT-03 MOT pass rate and common failures
Yamaha MT-03 motorcycles pass the MOT 88.52% of the time, measured across 636 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.09% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with not working - it accounts for 34% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check has a serious fluid leak and missing, the next two most common reasons.
- Age matters here: 94.08% of 3-5 year old examples pass, against 84.19% at 16+ years - a gap of 9.9 points.
- The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (5.7% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 13,021 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.
Pass rate by age
A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.
| Age at test | Pass rate | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 94.08% | 169 | |
| 6-10 years | 87.92% | 149 | |
| 11-15 years | 90% | 80 | |
| 16+ years | 84.19% | 234 |
Why the Yamaha MT-03 fails
Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.
| # | Item | Of failures | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not working | 34% | 16 | |
| 2 | Has a serious fluid leak | 21.3% | 10 | |
| 3 | Missing | 19.1% | 9 | |
| 4 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 14.9% | 7 | |
| 5 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 12.8% | 6 | |
| 6 | Not working on dipped beam | 10.6% | 5 | |
| 7 | Insecure | 10.6% | 5 | |
| 8 | Seriously damaged | 8.5% | 4 | |
| 9 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 8.5% | 4 | |
| 10 | Unable to be tested | 6.4% | 3 |
Most common advisories
Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.
| # | Item | Of all tests | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 5.7% | 36 | |
| 2 | Excessively loose | 5.3% | 34 | |
| 3 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 5.3% | 34 | |
| 4 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 3.3% | 21 | |
| 5 | Has a serious fluid leak | 3% | 19 | |
| 6 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 2.5% | 16 | |
| 7 | Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied | 2% | 13 | |
| 8 | Excessively binding | 1.1% | 7 | |
| 9 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 0.9% | 6 | |
| 10 | Worn to excess | 0.9% | 6 |
Yamaha MT-03 for sale
1 Yamaha MT-03 adverts on MotoDealers UK right now, 82 Yamaha in total.
Similar bikes compared
Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CB 397-750cc · 397-750cc | 5,400 | 89.76% | 19,444 | |
| Suzuki GSF600 · 600cc | 4,890 | 80% | 29,308 | |
| Honda CBR600F · 599cc | 4,710 | 85.56% | 30,651 | |
| Kawasaki ZX-6R · 599-636cc | 4,510 | 81.62% | 26,019 | |
| Suzuki GSXR600 · 599cc | 3,831 | 81.83% | 25,077 | |
| Honda CBR 471-650cc · 471-650cc | 3,603 | 86.48% | 17,329 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method