2002 Suzuki Ignis — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,663 MOT tests, the 2002 Suzuki Ignis recorded a 72.0% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (29.1% fail rate), the 2002 Ignis comes out 1.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.9%) and brakes (14.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, stop lamp and headlamp aim — service brake performance alone was recorded 394 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 34.4% versus 18.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 42.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.4% in 2021 to 25.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 741 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.7% | 685 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.4% | 579 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.7% | 267 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.1% | 236 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 196 |
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 | 394 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 337 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 329 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 321 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 284 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 278 |
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 | 42.3% | 1,971 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.0% | 1,587 |
| 3 | Other defects | 28.4% | 1,323 |
| 4 | Tyres | 26.6% | 1,240 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 20.0% | 934 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.5% | 723 |
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 | 180 | 18.9% |
| 30-60k | 888 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,534 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,298 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 578 | 34.8% |
| 150k+ | 183 | 34.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,305 | 29.4% |
| 2022 | 1,081 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 890 | 26.3% |
| 2024 | 780 | 29.5% |
| 2025 | 607 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Ignis
On a 2002 Ignis, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.7% 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 (12.4% 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.
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 2002 Suzuki Igniss pass their MOT?
72.0% of the 4,663 2002 Suzuki Ignis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Suzuki Ignis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests, followed by brakes (14.7%).
Does the 2002 Ignis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.9% in the 0-30k band to 34.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,663 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.