2014 Suzuki Alto — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Suzuki Alto passed 84.1% of its 75,661 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail 17.3% of the time, so this is 1.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.1% of tests against 6.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, wipers and tread depth — stop lamp alone was recorded 5,310 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.9% in the 0-30k band and 27.0% in the 150k+ band, a 17.2-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 9,186 |
| 2 | Visibility | 6.2% | 4,652 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.2% | 3,934 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.3% | 3,286 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.9% | 2,934 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 1,312 |
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 | 5,310 |
| 2 | Wipers | 3,806 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,558 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 2,520 |
| 5 | Washers | 2,019 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,725 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.6% | 20,109 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.3% | 18,381 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.5% | 14,757 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 4,653 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.1% | 3,879 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 3,780 |
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 | 19,793 | 9.9% |
| 30-60k | 34,735 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 16,293 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 3,963 | 23.6% |
| 120-150k | 717 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 148 | 27.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,994 | 13.2% |
| 2022 | 15,101 | 14.4% |
| 2023 | 15,336 | 16.0% |
| 2024 | 15,145 | 17.4% |
| 2025 | 15,085 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Alto
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (6.2% 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.
- Tyres (5.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2014 Suzuki Altos pass their MOT?
84.1% of the 75,661 2014 Suzuki Alto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Suzuki Alto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.1% of tests, followed by visibility (6.2%).
Does the 2014 Alto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 75,661 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.