Suzuki Cappuccino MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 30 model years and 1,267 tests, the Suzuki Cappuccino passes its MOT 77.4% of the time. That is 1.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.9%. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.9%) and lighting & signalling (8.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 152 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.3% once past 120-150k — 5.3× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 25.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.4% in 2021 to 22.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Cappuccino model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 158 | 74.1% | 25.9% | Brakes |
| 1994 | 610 | 78.4% | 21.6% | Suspension |
| 1995 | 379 | 76.0% | 24.0% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.9% | 126 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 112 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.8% | 99 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 94 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 78 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.7% | 47 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.2% | 28 |
| 8 | Tyres | 1.5% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 152 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 108 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 62 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 54 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 42 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 37 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 36 |
| 8 | Rbt (sp) | 36 |
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 | 25.3% | 320 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.8% | 226 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 15.2% | 192 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.9% | 125 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.6% | 109 |
| 6 | Tyres | 8.3% | 105 |
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 | 115 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 423 | 20.8% |
| 60-90k | 468 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 211 | 29.4% |
| 120-150k | 31 | 32.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 276 | 25.4% |
| 2022 | 267 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 250 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 234 | 19.7% |
| 2025 | 240 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a Suzuki Cappuccino
- Suspension (9.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.8% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki Cappuccino?
77.4% of the 1,267 Suzuki Cappuccino MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 22.6% fail rate, across model years 1991–2020.
What does the Suzuki Cappuccino most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 9.9% of tests, then lighting & signalling (8.8%).
How much does mileage affect Cappuccino MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 32.3% for 120-150k, a 26.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,267 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.