2009 Suzuki Alto — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Suzuki Alto passed 77.7% of its 34,001 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail 25.7% of the time, so this is 3.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.6% of tests against 8.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, wipers and stop lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 2,401 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.0% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 4,976 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.7% | 2,961 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.0% | 2,717 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 2,221 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.3% | 1,786 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 1,149 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,401 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,805 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,791 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,736 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,130 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 1,059 |
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 | 36.6% | 12,445 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.9% | 11,877 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.5% | 9,360 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 4,712 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.4% | 3,890 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.7% | 2,959 |
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 | 3,293 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 11,093 | 19.3% |
| 60-90k | 12,158 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 5,827 | 27.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,376 | 29.9% |
| 150k+ | 243 | 28.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,421 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 7,199 | 21.5% |
| 2023 | 6,928 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 6,558 | 23.9% |
| 2025 | 5,895 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Alto
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.6% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Brakes (8.7% 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.
- Suspension (8.0% 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 2009 Suzuki Altos pass their MOT?
77.7% of the 34,001 2009 Suzuki Alto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Suzuki Alto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by brakes (8.7%).
Does the 2009 Alto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 28.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 34,001 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.