Suzuki Alto
From 78,323 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Altos fare better: 2015 models pass at 77.1% vs 59.5% for 2003.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, stop lamp missing and inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, caused 3,436 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 3,436 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 2,488 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 2,145 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 1,978 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 1,910 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,715 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 1,432 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 1,393 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,312 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 1,302 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 38.5% of failures are serious: 38.5% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 0% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £95.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 77.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2014 | 75.1% | stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2013 | 73.1% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2012 | 71.7% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
7 earlier years
| 2011 | 72.1% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2010 | 68.9% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2009 | 69% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2006 | 58.2% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. |
| 2005 | 60.6% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. |
| 2004 | 60.8% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2003 | 59.5% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
Typical mileage
Half of all Altos tested had between 38,784 and 85,035 miles on the clock.
At 57,471 median miles, the Alto has 0.049 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Suzuki models
| Suzuki Swift | 75.7% |
| Suzuki Vitara | 85.6% |
| Suzuki Sx4 | 76.6% |
| Suzuki Jimny | 74.9% |
| Suzuki Celerio | 86% |
Common questions
What is the Suzuki Alto MOT pass rate?
The Suzuki Alto has a 71.8% MOT pass rate based on 78,323 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Suzuki Alto?
The most common MOT failure on the Suzuki Alto is brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, which caused 3,436 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
What is the typical mileage of a Suzuki Alto at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Suzuki Alto is 57,471 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 38,784 and 85,035 miles.
Buying a used Alto?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 71.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £95 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.