2001 Suzuki Ignis — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Suzuki Ignis passed 71.9% of its 3,364 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as city cars of a similar age (28.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.0%) and brakes (15.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, rigid brake pipes and stop lamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 323 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.5% versus 15.0%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 43.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 539 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.4% | 519 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.6% | 424 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 196 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 182 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 170 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 323 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 246 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 245 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 203 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 178 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 168 |
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 | 43.1% | 1,451 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.5% | 1,227 |
| 3 | Other defects | 34.7% | 1,168 |
| 4 | Tyres | 28.6% | 962 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.2% | 646 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.3% | 548 |
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 | 93 | 15.0% |
| 30-60k | 727 | 21.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,129 | 28.1% |
| 90-120k | 947 | 31.7% |
| 120-150k | 330 | 35.4% |
| 150k+ | 132 | 29.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 921 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 788 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 653 | 28.3% |
| 2024 | 548 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 454 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Ignis
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.4% 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.
- Suspension (12.6% 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.
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 2001 Suzuki Igniss pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 3,364 2001 Suzuki Ignis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Suzuki Ignis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.0% of tests, followed by brakes (15.4%).
Does the 2001 Ignis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.0% in the 0-30k band to 29.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,364 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.