Verdict
The Suzuki Liana passes its MOT first time on 49.6% of tests, 6.9 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (56.4%). That puts it ahead of 25% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2002 Liana does best (beats 33% of cars) and the 2006 worst (beats 17%).
Better than average on steering.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
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.
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.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 49.6% | Beats 25% | D |
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.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Engine warning light 2.5× typical
The engine warning light should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts. If it stays on, get the fault codes read before you buy. - Suspension ball joints 2.6× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering. - Brake performance 2.5× typical
On the test drive, brake firmly: the car should stop straight with no pulsing through the pedal. - Tyre tread depth 1.7× typical
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems. - Exhaust emissions (catalyst) 2.0× typical
Check past MOT emissions readings in the car's history: rising readings can mean catalyst or sensor problems. - Brake lights 1.4× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive shaft (CV) joints | 12.1% | 2.7% | 4.5× |
| Brake lights | 6.1% | 4.2% | 1.4× |
| Engine warning light | 5.7% | 2.3% | 2.5× |
| Tyre tread depth | 5.4% | 3.1% | 1.7× |
| Suspension ball joints | 5.2% | 2.0% | 2.6× |
| Brake pipes | 5.1% | 2.6% | 2.0× |
| Brake performance | 5.1% | 2.1% | 2.5× |
| Windscreen wipers | 5.1% | 3.5% | 1.4× |
| Sidelights | 4.3% | 4.9% | 0.9× |
| Exhaust emissions (catalyst) | 4.1% | 2.1% | 2.0× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 125.4 |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 103.9 |
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 57.7 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 56.2 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 53.6 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 50.1 |
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 47.2 |
| Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 42.7 |
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.
2007 Suzuki Liana1 engine51.8% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 51.8% | Beats 19% | E |
2006 Suzuki Liana1 engine49.2% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 49.2% | Beats 17% | E |
2005 Suzuki Liana1 engine48.6% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 48.6% | Beats 24% | D |
2004 Suzuki Liana1 engine48.8% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 48.8% | Beats 29% | D |
2003 Suzuki Liana1 engine48.9% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 48.9% | Beats 26% | D |
2002 Suzuki Liana1 engine51.6% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 51.6% | Beats 33% | D |
FAQ
What is the Suzuki Liana MOT pass rate?
49.6% of MOT tests on the Suzuki Liana were passed first time, based on 20,253 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2002–2007. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 56.4% of the time.
Is the Suzuki Liana reliable?
On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 25% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Suzuki Liana year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2002 Liana does best for its age and mileage: it beats 33% of cars on UK roads. The 2006 does worst: it beats 17%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Suzuki Liana?
The most common failure items are drive shaft (CV) joints, brake lights, engine warning light. Compared with similar cars, drive shaft (CV) joints comes up 4.5× as often.