The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.
“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.
Pass rate over time
The AZ's first-time pass rate has fallen 11.9 points since 2017, 80.4% to 68.5%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage AZ passes first time 85.8% of the time; by 40k that's 74.2%.
First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.
What fails on a AZ
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| brakes |
|
172 | 32 | 1.6× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
140 | 26 | 3.9× |
| tyres |
|
78 | 14.5 | 5.7× |
| suspension |
|
48 | 8.9 | 3.0× |
| steering |
|
31 | 5.8 | 4.3× |
| structure and attachments |
|
22 | 4.1 | 1.9× |
| lighting and signalling |
|
19 | 3.5 | 0.2× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
12 | 2.2 | 0.3× |
| steering and suspension |
|
11 | 2 | 0.2× |
| audible warning (Horn) |
|
5 | 0.9 | 1.7× |
Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.
How rivals compare
On first-time pass rate the AZ beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (PIAGGIO VESPA, HONDA PCX 125, HONDA Vision 110).
Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the AZ.
Compare with any bike
More SYM models
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2013 (80.3% pass). Weakest: 2015 (73.6%).
First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.
SYM AZ FAQ
Is the SYM AZ reliable?
The SYM AZ is more reliable than average for its class: 76.1% of its 1,608 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4173 of 5428 models.
What does a AZ fail its MOT on most?
brakes — 32% of all defects recorded against failed AZ tests.
What is the best year of AZ to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 2013-registered examples do best (80.3%) and 2015 worst (73.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.
How many miles will a AZ last?
The median AZ shows 12,886 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 74.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.
Embed this bike
Free to embed on your site, blog or forum — a live SYM Az reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.