Suzuki Sj410 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Suzuki Sj410 appears in 1,056 MOT tests spanning model years 1982–2021, and 76.5% of them passed. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.6%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.4% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and prescribed areas — service brake performance alone was recorded 83 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.7% versus 20.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 20.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.1% in 2021 to 19.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Sj410 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 45 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1984 | 47 | 74.5% | 25.5% | Brakes |
| 1985 | 144 | 78.5% | 21.5% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1986 | 206 | 74.8% | 25.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 249 | 79.9% | 20.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 212 | 73.1% | 26.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 81 | 75.3% | 24.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 163 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.6% | 122 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.1% | 96 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.9% | 62 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 60 |
| 6 | Suspension | 4.4% | 46 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.2% | 34 |
| 8 | Steering | 1.8% | 19 |
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 | 83 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 69 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 58 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 53 |
| 5 | Non catalyst emissions | 49 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 49 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 47 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 43 |
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 | 20.2% | 213 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.0% | 211 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 18.9% | 200 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.9% | 157 |
| 5 | Tyres | 12.0% | 127 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 96 |
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 | 207 | 20.8% |
| 30-60k | 320 | 26.3% |
| 60-90k | 361 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 148 | 25.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 266 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 249 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 190 | 18.9% |
| 2024 | 189 | 22.2% |
| 2025 | 162 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a Suzuki Sj410
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.6% 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 (9.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki Sj410?
76.5% of the 1,056 Suzuki Sj410 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 23.5% fail rate, across model years 1982–2021.
What does the Suzuki Sj410 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, then brakes (11.6%).
How much does mileage affect Sj410 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 20.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 25.7% for 90-120k, a 4.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,056 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.