2011 Suzuki Splash — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Suzuki Splash passed 74.0% of its 10,240 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.4 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests against 11.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, ball joint and service brake performance — coil spring alone was recorded 870 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.8% in the 0-30k band and 31.7% in the 150k+ band, a 12.9-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 24.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.2% | 1,760 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 1,134 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 792 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.1% | 517 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.7% | 377 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 175 |
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 | 870 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 605 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 554 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 532 |
| 5 | Wipers | 412 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 303 |
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 | 37.3% | 3,818 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.6% | 2,728 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.3% | 2,697 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 753 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.9% | 711 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 536 |
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 | 1,299 | 18.8% |
| 30-60k | 4,258 | 22.9% |
| 60-90k | 3,256 | 30.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,059 | 31.7% |
| 120-150k | 285 | 34.0% |
| 150k+ | 82 | 31.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,090 | 25.9% |
| Diesel | 150 | 32.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,104 | 24.1% |
| 2022 | 2,091 | 25.5% |
| 2023 | 2,066 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 2,028 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 1,951 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Splash
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.2% 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 (11.1% 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 (7.7% 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 2011 Suzuki Splashs pass their MOT?
74.0% of the 10,240 2011 Suzuki Splash MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Suzuki Splash?
Suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by brakes (11.1%).
Does the 2011 Splash get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.8% in the 0-30k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,240 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.