2013 Suzuki Alto — MOT failures & pass rate
70,838 MOT tests on the 2013 Suzuki Alto are in this dataset, and 82.6% of them passed. Against city cars of a similar age (19.1% fail rate), the 2013 Alto comes out 1.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.9% of all tests — 5.8 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, wipers and rigid brake pipes — stop lamp alone was recorded 4,065 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.2% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 29.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 8,414 |
| 2 | Visibility | 6.0% | 4,289 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.3% | 3,769 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.3% | 3,740 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.2% | 3,684 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 1,412 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 4,065 |
| 2 | Wipers | 3,539 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,314 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 2,726 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,118 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,739 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 29.7% | 21,055 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.6% | 19,520 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.9% | 17,673 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 4,959 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 4,652 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.8% | 4,132 |
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 | 12,835 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 31,741 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 19,203 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 5,709 | 24.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,060 | 26.7% |
| 150k+ | 276 | 27.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,161 | 14.7% |
| 2022 | 14,249 | 15.8% |
| 2023 | 14,308 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 14,265 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 13,855 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Alto
On a 2013 Alto, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (6.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Suspension (5.3% 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 2013 Suzuki Altos pass their MOT?
82.6% of the 70,838 2013 Suzuki Alto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Suzuki Alto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.9% of tests, followed by visibility (6.0%).
Does the 2013 Alto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 0-30k band to 27.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 70,838 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.