2015 Suzuki Alto — MOT failures & pass rate
10,714 MOT tests on the 2015 Suzuki Alto are in this dataset, and 84.7% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail at 15.5%, so the 2015 Alto sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.6% of all tests — 4.4 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, wipers and tread depth — stop lamp alone was recorded 612 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.2% once past 120-150k — 2.4× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 1,140 |
| 2 | Visibility | 6.2% | 664 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.1% | 551 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 427 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.0% | 317 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 284 |
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 | 612 |
| 2 | Wipers | 560 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 352 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 317 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 301 |
| 6 | Washers | 280 |
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 | 25.5% | 2,730 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.3% | 2,384 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.6% | 1,668 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 617 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.5% | 479 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 449 |
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 | 3,317 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 5,013 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,805 | 22.3% |
| 90-120k | 456 | 23.5% |
| 120-150k | 99 | 23.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,129 | 12.3% |
| 2022 | 2,135 | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 2,142 | 15.3% |
| 2024 | 2,147 | 16.5% |
| 2025 | 2,161 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Alto
On a 2015 Alto, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% 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 (5.1% 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 2015 Suzuki Altos pass their MOT?
84.7% of the 10,714 2015 Suzuki Alto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Suzuki Alto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by visibility (6.2%).
Does the 2015 Alto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 23.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,714 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.