2006 Suzuki Alto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,614 MOT tests, the 2006 Suzuki Alto recorded a 67.5% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 28.7% of the time, so this is 3.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (17.0%) and lighting & signalling (14.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, joints and service brake imbalance — service brake performance alone was recorded 655 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.0% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.0% | 956 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 820 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.4% | 752 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.3% | 749 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 376 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 370 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 655 |
| 2 | Joints | 579 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 520 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 368 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 339 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 316 |
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 | 40.9% | 2,298 |
| 2 | Suspension | 38.0% | 2,133 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.3% | 1,645 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.3% | 1,254 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.4% | 642 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 622 |
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 | 764 | 25.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,584 | 31.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,650 | 35.2% |
| 90-120k | 506 | 36.4% |
| 120-150k | 100 | 35.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,662 | 32.9% |
| 2022 | 1,328 | 32.8% |
| 2023 | 1,089 | 31.6% |
| 2024 | 851 | 31.8% |
| 2025 | 684 | 33.0% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Alto
On a 2006 Alto, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (17.0% 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 (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.4% 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 2006 Suzuki Altos pass their MOT?
67.5% of the 5,614 2006 Suzuki Alto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Suzuki Alto?
Brakes, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.6%).
Does the 2006 Alto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.4% in the 0-30k band to 35.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,614 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.