2001 Suzuki Alto — MOT failures & pass rate
254 MOT tests on the 2001 Suzuki Alto are in this dataset, and 66.1% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail 28.7% of the time, so this is 5.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 18.9% of tests against 15.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and service brake imbalance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 38 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 36.6% versus 28.6%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 34.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 40.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 18.9% | 48 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 38 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.6% | 37 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 28 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.7% | 22 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.5% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 38 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 36 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 29 |
| 4 | Joints | 19 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 16 |
| 6 | Wipers | 16 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 37.4% | 95 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.1% | 84 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.0% | 61 |
| 4 | Tyres | 23.2% | 59 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.3% | 49 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 25 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 42 | 28.6% |
| 30-60k | 107 | 33.6% |
| 60-90k | 82 | 36.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 34.8% |
| 2022 | 54 | 31.5% |
| 2023 | 41 | 29.3% |
| 2024 | 35 | 34.3% |
| 2025 | 35 | 40.0% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Alto
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 18.9% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (18.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2001 Suzuki Altos pass their MOT?
66.1% of the 254 2001 Suzuki Alto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Suzuki Alto?
Brakes, recorded in 18.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.0%).
Does the 2001 Alto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.6% in the 0-30k band to 36.6% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 254 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.