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Suzuki Alto reliability

E · Poor

MOT pass rates and common problems from 458,552 MOT tests of cars first registered 2003–2015.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
67.6%pass first time
−5.3 ptsvs typical car
Beats 19%of cars
458,552MOT tests

Verdict

The Suzuki Alto passes its MOT first time on 67.6% of tests, 5.3 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (73.0%). That puts it ahead of 19% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2009 Alto does best (beats 42% of cars) and the 2014 worst (beats 11%).

Of its engines, the 1.0 Petrol does best (beats 26%) and the 1.1 Petrol worst (beats 4%).

Better than average on steering.

Watch these weak spots

Lights & electrics1.4×as often as a typical car
Brakes1.5×as often as a typical car
Brake lights2.6×as often as a typical car
Windscreen wipers2.0×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

40%60%80%100%3456789101112131415161718192080%78%75%71%67%61%55%51%49%
Suzuki AltoTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2003
Beats 4%
2004
Beats 4%
2005
Beats 3%
2006
Beats 2%
2009
Beats 42%
2010
Beats 34%
2011
Beats 37%
2012
Beats 30%
2013
Beats 26%
2014
Beats 11%
2015
Beats 8%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol2009–2015408,15870.3%Beats 26%D
1.1 Petrol2003–200650,39445.9%Beats 4%E

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 2.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 7.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 14.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 10.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 6.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 8.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 5.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 14.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 10.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−4.4 ptsTyres: 6.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−1.2 ptsBrakes: 8.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 5.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−2.6 ptsSuspension: 7.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+0.5 ptsExhaust: 2.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−0.1 ptsSuspension: 7.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 8.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 5.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 6.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 14.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 10.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 2.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 14.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 10.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−4.4 ptsTyres: 6.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−1.2 ptsBrakes: 8.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 5.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−2.6 ptsSuspension: 7.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+0.5 ptsExhaust: 2.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−0.1 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Lights: 14.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 10.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics
14.7% vs 10.3%
Brakes
8.3% vs 5.7%
Visibility
7.8% vs 4.7%
Suspension
7.6% vs 8.1%
Tyres
6.7% vs 5.5%
Body & structure
4.0% vs 2.7%
Emissions & leaks
2.4% vs 2.3%
Seat belts & airbags
1.0% vs 0.7%
Steering
0.7% vs 1.4%
Wheels
0.2% vs 0.3%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Brake lights 2.6× typical
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Windscreen wipers 2.0× typical
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Tyre tread depth 1.6× typical
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Wheel bearings 4.1× typical
    Listen for a hum or drone that rises with speed.
  • Brake performance 1.6× typical
    On the test drive, brake firmly: the car should stop straight with no pulsing through the pedal.
  • Suspension arm bushes 1.5× typical
    Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

40%60%80%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k87%78%69%60%55%51%51%50%
Suzuki AltoTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Brake lights5.7%2.2%2.6×
Windscreen wipers4.7%2.4%2.0×
Sidelights3.9%2.1%1.8×
Tyre damage & cracking3.4%3.2%1.1×
Tyre tread depth3.1%2.0%1.6×
Brake pipes3.0%0.7%4.6×
Windscreen washers2.6%2.0%1.3×
Headlight aim2.5%2.7%0.9×
Drive shaft (CV) joints1.9%1.0%1.8×
Brake performance1.8%1.1%1.6×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning53.4
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen46.9
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning33.8
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements30.9
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded28.7
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn27.0
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen26.3
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements24.5
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2015 Suzuki Alto1 engine75.5% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol16,33975.5%Beats 8%E
2014 Suzuki Alto1 engine73.5% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol113,68473.5%Beats 11%E
2013 Suzuki Alto1 engine72.3% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol105,32172.3%Beats 26%D
2012 Suzuki Alto1 engine69.9% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol41,88869.9%Beats 30%D
2011 Suzuki Alto1 engine68.1% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol41,14868.1%Beats 37%D
2010 Suzuki Alto1 engine64.5% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol40,66164.5%Beats 34%D
2009 Suzuki Alto1 engine64.2% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol49,11764.2%Beats 42%C
2006 Suzuki Alto1 engine46.5% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.1 Petrol9,69946.5%Beats 2%E
2005 Suzuki Alto1 engine45.7% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.1 Petrol17,43445.7%Beats 3%E
2004 Suzuki Alto1 engine46.2% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.1 Petrol15,61246.2%Beats 4%E
2003 Suzuki Alto1 engine44.8% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.1 Petrol7,64944.8%Beats 4%E

FAQ

What is the Suzuki Alto MOT pass rate?

67.6% of MOT tests on the Suzuki Alto were passed first time, based on 458,552 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2003–2015. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 73.0% of the time.

Is the Suzuki Alto reliable?

On MOT results it rates E (poor): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 19% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Suzuki Alto year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2009 Alto does best for its age and mileage: it beats 42% of cars on UK roads. The 2014 does worst: it beats 11%.

Which Suzuki Alto engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.0 Petrol does best: it beats 26% of cars on UK roads. The 1.1 Petrol does worst: it beats 4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Suzuki Alto?

The most common failure items are brake lights, windscreen wipers, sidelights. Compared with similar cars, brake lights comes up 2.6× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.