2018 Suzuki Celerio — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Suzuki Celerio passed 93.4% of its 21,864 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail 9.7% of the time, so this is 3.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Visibility dominates the failure mix at 5.8% of all tests — 3.2 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 1,368 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 12.5% once past 120-150k — 2.7× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.8% | 1,266 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.6% | 563 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 560 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 457 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 94 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 75 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,368 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 399 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 335 |
| 4 | Washers | 282 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 121 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 113 |
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 | 20.1% | 4,403 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.4% | 1,628 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.5% | 973 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 694 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.9% | 415 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 125 |
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 | 14,679 | 4.5% |
| 30-60k | 5,934 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,024 | 13.6% |
| 90-120k | 179 | 15.1% |
| 120-150k | 32 | 12.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,393 | 4.5% |
| 2022 | 4,383 | 5.9% |
| 2023 | 4,382 | 6.6% |
| 2024 | 4,261 | 6.6% |
| 2025 | 4,445 | 9.3% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Celerio
On a 2018 Celerio, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (5.8% 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 (2.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2018 Suzuki Celerios pass their MOT?
93.4% of the 21,864 2018 Suzuki Celerio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Suzuki Celerio?
Visibility, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by tyres (2.6%).
Does the 2018 Celerio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.5% in the 0-30k band to 12.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,864 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.