2009 Suzuki Splash — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Suzuki Splash passed 71.2% of its 18,002 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 19.6% of all tests — 5.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, service brake performance and ball joint — coil spring alone was recorded 1,262 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.7% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.8pp more often than petrol ones (31.4% vs 28.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.6% | 3,520 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 2,483 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 1,692 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.3% | 951 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.1% | 739 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 613 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,262 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 1,179 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 1,076 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 875 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 865 |
| 6 | Wipers | 800 |
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 | 36.7% | 6,606 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.9% | 6,277 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.4% | 4,758 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.4% | 1,507 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 1,412 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 1,301 |
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 | 1,400 | 21.6% |
| 30-60k | 6,373 | 26.4% |
| 60-90k | 6,375 | 30.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,932 | 33.2% |
| 120-150k | 715 | 33.7% |
| 150k+ | 205 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 16,696 | 28.6% |
| Diesel | 1,306 | 31.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,829 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 3,760 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 3,666 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 3,485 | 29.8% |
| 2025 | 3,262 | 29.9% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Splash
On a 2009 Splash, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (19.6% 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 (13.8% 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 (9.4% 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 2009 Suzuki Splashs pass their MOT?
71.2% of the 18,002 2009 Suzuki Splash MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Suzuki Splash?
Suspension, recorded in 19.6% of tests, followed by brakes (13.8%).
Does the 2009 Splash get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.6% in the 0-30k band to 32.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,002 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.