2004 Suzuki Liana — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,404 MOT tests, the 2004 Suzuki Liana recorded a 69.7% pass rate. That is 2.6 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.4%) and lighting & signalling (13.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and service brake performance — joints alone was recorded 303 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.8% versus 13.9%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.7% in 2021 to 26.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.4% | 321 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 315 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.8% | 309 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.9% | 285 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 166 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.1% | 146 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 303 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 146 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 140 |
| 4 | Wipers | 130 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 127 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 124 |
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 | 39.2% | 943 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.4% | 706 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.4% | 683 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.1% | 507 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.5% | 493 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.6% | 398 |
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 | 36 | 13.9% |
| 30-60k | 357 | 25.2% |
| 60-90k | 764 | 29.7% |
| 90-120k | 821 | 31.7% |
| 120-150k | 346 | 34.4% |
| 150k+ | 80 | 33.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 771 | 32.7% |
| 2022 | 562 | 28.8% |
| 2023 | 467 | 29.3% |
| 2024 | 347 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 257 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Liana
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.8% 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+.
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 2004 Suzuki Lianas pass their MOT?
69.7% of the 2,404 2004 Suzuki Liana MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Suzuki Liana?
Suspension, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.1%).
Does the 2004 Liana get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.9% in the 0-30k band to 33.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,404 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.