Suzuki Liana MOT pass rate & common failures
10,835 MOT tests on the Suzuki Liana (2001–2016) give it a 69.2% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.4% fail rate), the Liana comes out 3.3pp worse. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (14.2%) and lighting & signalling (14.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, service brake performance and rigid brake pipes — joints alone was recorded 1,251 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.9% versus 17.5%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.0% in 2021 to 30.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Liana model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 188 | 73.9% | 26.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 1,030 | 68.8% | 31.2% | Brakes |
| 2003 | 1,284 | 67.9% | 32.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 2,404 | 69.7% | 30.3% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 2,558 | 68.8% | 31.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 1,586 | 69.3% | 30.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 1,669 | 70.1% | 29.9% | Suspension |
| 2008 | 106 | 67.9% | 32.1% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.2% | 1,541 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 1,526 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.4% | 1,342 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.3% | 1,333 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 831 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.0% | 646 |
| 7 | Visibility | 5.8% | 625 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.4% | 148 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,251 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 667 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 662 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 607 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 605 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 594 |
| 7 | Stop lamp | 582 |
| 8 | Wipers | 554 |
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 | 39.7% | 4,305 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.4% | 3,508 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.7% | 3,108 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.4% | 2,215 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.0% | 2,057 |
| 6 | Other defects | 17.4% | 1,887 |
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 | 303 | 17.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,999 | 27.1% |
| 60-90k | 3,792 | 30.3% |
| 90-120k | 3,321 | 33.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,170 | 34.9% |
| 150k+ | 246 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,366 | 32.0% |
| 2022 | 2,597 | 29.7% |
| 2023 | 2,071 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 1,615 | 31.3% |
| 2025 | 1,186 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a Suzuki Liana
- Suspension (14.2% 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 (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.4% 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.
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 Liana?
69.2% of the 10,835 Suzuki Liana MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 30.8% fail rate, across model years 2001–2016.
What does the Suzuki Liana most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 14.2% of tests, then lighting & signalling (14.1%).
How much does mileage affect Liana MOT results?
Fail rates run at 17.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.9% for 150k+, a 13.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,835 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.