1992 Suzuki Sj413 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1992 Suzuki Sj413 passed 82.1% of its 290 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 23.0% of the time, so this is 5.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (11.4%) and lighting & signalling (10.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and integral vehicle structure condition — headlamp aim alone was recorded 25 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1992 Sj413 fails 16.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 15.5% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.5 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 20.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.1% in 2021 to 18.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.4% | 33 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 31 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 21 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 19 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.8% | 14 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 22 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 14 |
| 4 | Washers | 12 |
| 5 | Non catalyst emissions | 11 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 20.0% | 58 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.6% | 51 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.6% | 51 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.2% | 47 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.6% | 25 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 23 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 50 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 141 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 58 | 15.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 79 | 24.1% |
| 2022 | 64 | 21.9% |
| 2023 | 53 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 44 | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 50 | 18.0% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Sj413
On a 1992 Sj413, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (11.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.2% 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 1992 Suzuki Sj413s pass their MOT?
82.1% of the 290 1992 Suzuki Sj413 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Suzuki Sj413?
Brakes, recorded in 11.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.7%).
Does the 1992 Sj413 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.0% in the 30-60k band to 15.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 290 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.