2012 Suzuki Splash — MOT failures & pass rate
23,130 MOT tests on the 2012 Suzuki Splash are in this dataset, and 79.4% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail at 20.9%, so the 2012 Splash sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 12.0% of all tests — 3.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, rigid brake pipes and wipers — ball joint alone was recorded 1,316 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.8% versus 11.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.0% | 2,783 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.5% | 1,974 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 1,813 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.0% | 1,155 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.6% | 832 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 290 |
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 | 1,316 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,109 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,016 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 818 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 766 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 652 |
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 | 30.9% | 7,145 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.0% | 6,014 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.4% | 5,407 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 1,684 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.0% | 1,610 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 948 |
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 | 3,555 | 11.7% |
| 30-60k | 10,266 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 6,555 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,182 | 28.2% |
| 120-150k | 475 | 31.2% |
| 150k+ | 94 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,511 | 16.9% |
| 2022 | 4,669 | 19.6% |
| 2023 | 4,748 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 4,637 | 22.2% |
| 2025 | 4,565 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Splash
On a 2012 Splash, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (12.0% 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 (8.5% 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 (7.8% 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 2012 Suzuki Splashs pass their MOT?
79.4% of the 23,130 2012 Suzuki Splash MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Suzuki Splash?
Suspension, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by brakes (8.5%).
Does the 2012 Splash get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.7% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,130 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.