Suzuki Splash MOT pass rate & common failures
The Suzuki Splash appears in 113,988 MOT tests spanning model years 2006–2020, and 77.1% of them passed. That is 1.0 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.9%. Its most common failure areas are suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
Best and worst Splash years
Ranked across Splash years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2014 cars pass 83.7% of the time while 2008 cars manage 70.2%, a 13.5-point spread.
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 14.4% of tests against 9.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, coil spring and wipers — ball joint alone was recorded 6,564 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.0% in the 0-30k band and 32.1% in the 150k+ band, a 20.2-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.6% fail against 33.1% for diesel, a 10.5-point gap across 113,988 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Splash model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 13,052 | 70.2% | 29.8% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 18,002 | 71.2% | 28.8% | Suspension |
| 2010 | 9,930 | 72.6% | 27.4% | Suspension |
| 2011 | 10,240 | 74.0% | 26.0% | Suspension |
| 2012 | 23,130 | 79.4% | 20.6% | Suspension |
| 2013 | 21,011 | 81.5% | 18.4% | Suspension |
| 2014 | 18,271 | 83.7% | 16.3% | Suspension |
| 2015 | 341 | 84.8% | 15.3% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.4% | 16,460 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.9% | 11,320 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 8,969 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.9% | 5,554 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.7% | 4,192 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 2,192 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 1,805 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 549 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 6,564 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 5,912 |
| 3 | Wipers | 4,959 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 4,778 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 4,624 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 3,308 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 3,269 |
| 8 | Pins and bushes | 3,053 |
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 | 31.3% | 35,669 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.1% | 29,776 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.5% | 29,016 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.7% | 8,791 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 7,101 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 5,134 |
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 | 17,357 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 47,230 | 20.6% |
| 60-90k | 33,310 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 12,412 | 31.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,974 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 697 | 32.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 110,595 | 22.6% |
| Diesel | 3,393 | 33.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,112 | 20.6% |
| 2022 | 23,189 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 23,133 | 23.1% |
| 2024 | 22,630 | 24.4% |
| 2025 | 21,924 | 24.9% |
What to check before buying a Suzuki Splash
- Suspension (14.4% 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.
- Brakes (9.9% 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 (7.9% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki Splash?
77.1% of the 113,988 Suzuki Splash MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 22.9% fail rate, across model years 2006–2020.
What does the Suzuki Splash most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 14.4% of tests, then brakes (9.9%).
Which Splash years are best and worst for MOT results?
2014 has the best pass rate at 83.7% and 2008 the weakest at 70.2%, from 18,271 and 13,052 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Splash MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 32.1% for 150k+, a 20.2-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Splash more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 22.6% of the time against 33.1% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 113,988 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.