2012 Suzuki Kizashi — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Suzuki Kizashi passed 82.8% of its 1,021 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.7%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (7.3%) and lighting & signalling (6.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, headlamp aim and brake pads — shock absorbers alone was recorded 51 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.9% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 7.3% | 75 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 68 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.5% | 66 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.2% | 43 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 27 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 51 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 30 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 30 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 30 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 28 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 28 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 28.3% | 289 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.2% | 267 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.2% | 247 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 90 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.2% | 74 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 57 |
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 | 37 | 13.5% |
| 30-60k | 333 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 402 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 199 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 41 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 203 | 13.3% |
| 2022 | 215 | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 208 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 205 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 190 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Kizashi
On a 2012 Kizashi, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (7.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.5% 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 2012 Suzuki Kizashis pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 1,021 2012 Suzuki Kizashi MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Suzuki Kizashi?
Brakes, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.7%).
Does the 2012 Kizashi get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,021 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.