2008 Suzuki Splash — MOT failures & pass rate
13,052 MOT tests on the 2008 Suzuki Splash are in this dataset, and 70.2% of them passed. That is 2.7 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.1%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 20.7% of tests against 14.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, coil spring and pins and bushes — ball joint alone was recorded 920 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.1% versus 18.5%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 29.2% fail against 35.2% for diesel, a 5.9-point gap across 13,052 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.7% | 2,696 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 1,845 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 1,261 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.1% | 669 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.5% | 583 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 535 |
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 | 920 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 830 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 729 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 720 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 681 |
| 6 | Wipers | 596 |
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% | 5,117 |
| 2 | Brakes | 37.9% | 4,947 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.1% | 3,664 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.1% | 1,321 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 1,071 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 999 |
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 | 715 | 18.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,712 | 26.7% |
| 60-90k | 5,047 | 30.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,623 | 33.7% |
| 120-150k | 811 | 33.8% |
| 150k+ | 142 | 33.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 11,784 | 29.2% |
| Diesel | 1,268 | 35.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,920 | 29.7% |
| 2022 | 2,756 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 2,679 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 2,480 | 30.6% |
| 2025 | 2,217 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Splash
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 20.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (20.7% 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 (14.1% 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 (9.7% 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 2008 Suzuki Splashs pass their MOT?
70.2% of the 13,052 2008 Suzuki Splash MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Suzuki Splash?
Suspension, recorded in 20.7% of tests, followed by brakes (14.1%).
Does the 2008 Splash get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.5% in the 0-30k band to 33.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,052 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.