Suzuki Wagon R
From 314 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play and a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, caused 14 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 | 14 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 11 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 10 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 9 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 8 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 8 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 7 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 7 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 6 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 6 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 20.9% of Wagon R failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 43% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £125.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 59% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, exhaust system leaking or insecure |
Typical mileage
Half of all Wagon Rs tested had between 46,624 and 98,854 miles on the clock.
At 76,541 median miles, the Wagon R has 0.041 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Suzuki models
| Suzuki Swift | 75.7% |
| Suzuki Vitara | 85.6% |
| Suzuki Alto | 71.8% |
| Suzuki Sx4 | 76.6% |
| Suzuki Jimny | 74.9% |
Common questions
What is the Suzuki Wagon R MOT pass rate?
The Suzuki Wagon R has a 68.5% MOT pass rate based on 314 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Suzuki Wagon R?
The most common MOT failure on the Suzuki Wagon R is brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, which caused 14 failures. Other common issues include a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play.
What is the typical mileage of a Suzuki Wagon R at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Suzuki Wagon R is 76,541 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 46,624 and 98,854 miles.
Buying a used Wagon R?
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 68.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £125 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.