2016 Suzuki Baleno — MOT failures & pass rate
11,351 MOT tests on the 2016 Suzuki Baleno are in this dataset, and 82.5% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 15.6% of the time, so this is 1.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 8.3% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, rigid brake pipes and tread depth — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 1,155 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.7% versus 11.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 26.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.3% | 940 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.9% | 554 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.8% | 549 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.8% | 540 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 471 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 43 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,155 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 412 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 403 |
| 4 | Wipers | 394 |
| 5 | Washers | 288 |
| 6 | Horn | 237 |
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 | 26.9% | 3,053 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.1% | 2,616 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.3% | 2,304 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.7% | 755 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 362 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 214 |
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 | 2,794 | 11.6% |
| 30-60k | 5,730 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,284 | 22.7% |
| 90-120k | 473 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 58 | 20.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,987 | 17.5% |
| Hybrid | 364 | 16.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,180 | 12.9% |
| 2022 | 2,260 | 16.7% |
| 2023 | 2,313 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 2,302 | 19.2% |
| 2025 | 2,296 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Baleno
On a 2016 Baleno, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.3% 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.
- Visibility (4.9% 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.
- Brakes (4.8% 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.
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 2016 Suzuki Balenos pass their MOT?
82.5% of the 11,351 2016 Suzuki Baleno MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Suzuki Baleno?
Suspension, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by visibility (4.9%).
Does the 2016 Baleno get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.6% in the 0-30k band to 20.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,351 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.