Suzuki Carry MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 41 model years and 27,464 tests, the Suzuki Carry passes its MOT 71.8% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail at 27.3%, so the Carry sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (14.4%) and lighting & signalling (14.2%) 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 ball joint — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 4,049 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.5% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Carry model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 30 | 93.3% | 6.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 37 | 75.7% | 24.3% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1996 | 63 | 82.5% | 17.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 79 | 81.0% | 19.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 32 | 81.3% | 18.8% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1999 | 438 | 64.8% | 35.2% | Suspension |
| 2000 | 1,348 | 69.5% | 30.5% | Suspension |
| 2001 | 1,882 | 71.8% | 28.2% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 3,337 | 70.5% | 29.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 5,007 | 70.3% | 29.7% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 6,996 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 6,833 | 72.3% | 27.7% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 419 | 71.1% | 28.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 73 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 74 | 87.8% | 12.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 87 | 83.9% | 16.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 115 | 92.2% | 7.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 68 | 86.8% | 13.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 84 | 89.3% | 10.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 84 | 91.7% | 8.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 54 | 94.4% | 5.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 31 | 77.4% | 22.6% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2021 | 78 | 84.6% | 15.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.4% | 3,944 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 3,897 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 2,562 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 2,324 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.3% | 2,014 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.1% | 1,673 |
| 7 | Tyres | 5.5% | 1,499 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.8% | 490 |
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 | 4,049 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 1,799 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 1,660 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 1,456 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,454 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 1,382 |
| 7 | Wipers | 1,308 |
| 8 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 1,295 |
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 | 28.8% | 7,903 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.8% | 7,356 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.3% | 6,395 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.7% | 4,868 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.0% | 4,381 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 3,246 |
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 | 1,387 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 5,250 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 9,201 | 27.7% |
| 90-120k | 7,040 | 32.4% |
| 120-150k | 3,099 | 33.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,466 | 33.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,691 | 28.4% |
| 2022 | 6,024 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 5,399 | 28.7% |
| 2024 | 4,939 | 28.3% |
| 2025 | 4,411 | 27.0% |
What to check before buying a Suzuki Carry
- Suspension (14.4% 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 (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Carry?
71.8% of the 27,464 Suzuki Carry MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.2% fail rate, across model years 1985–2025.
What does the Suzuki Carry most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 14.4% of tests, then lighting & signalling (14.2%).
How much does mileage affect Carry MOT results?
Fail rates run at 14.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 33.5% for 150k+, a 18.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,464 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.