2002 Suzuki Liana — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,030 MOT tests, the 2002 Suzuki Liana recorded a 68.8% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2002 Liana comes out 3.6pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (13.7%) and body, structure & corrosion (11.8%) 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 catalyst emissions — joints alone was recorded 109 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 36.0% versus 18.9%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.7% in 2021 to 25.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.7% | 141 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 122 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 118 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.2% | 115 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 86 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.0% | 72 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 109 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 89 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 80 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 68 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 67 |
| 6 | Wipers | 67 |
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 | 39.3% | 405 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.6% | 356 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.2% | 311 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.3% | 209 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.1% | 207 |
| 6 | Other defects | 18.8% | 194 |
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 | 18.9% |
| 30-60k | 234 | 28.6% |
| 60-90k | 412 | 30.1% |
| 90-120k | 264 | 35.6% |
| 120-150k | 75 | 36.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 339 | 30.7% |
| 2022 | 271 | 32.5% |
| 2023 | 185 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 145 | 32.4% |
| 2025 | 90 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Liana
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 13.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (13.7% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.8% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% 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 2002 Suzuki Lianas pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 1,030 2002 Suzuki Liana MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Suzuki Liana?
Brakes, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.8%).
Does the 2002 Liana get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.9% in the 0-30k band to 36.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,030 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.