Suzuki Super Carry MOT pass rate & common failures
The Suzuki Super Carry appears in 1,381 MOT tests spanning model years 1986–2021, and 72.0% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (23.7% fail rate), the Super Carry comes out 4.3pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.0% of tests against 10.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 183 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 24.1% in the 0-30k band and 33.9% in the 90-120k band, a 9.8-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Super Carry model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 31 | 83.9% | 16.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 63 | 73.0% | 27.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 64 | 68.8% | 31.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 95 | 71.6% | 28.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 58 | 70.7% | 29.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 64 | 67.2% | 32.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 50 | 70.0% | 30.0% | Brakes |
| 1993 | 63 | 69.8% | 30.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 68 | 72.1% | 27.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 97 | 72.2% | 27.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 176 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 271 | 67.9% | 32.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 190 | 71.0% | 28.9% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.0% | 262 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.9% | 151 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.1% | 139 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.6% | 132 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 122 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.5% | 104 |
| 7 | Steering | 4.3% | 60 |
| 8 | Tyres | 3.3% | 46 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 183 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 142 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 115 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 114 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 113 |
| 6 | Wipers | 84 |
| 7 | Service brake imbalance | 64 |
| 8 | Rigid brake pipes | 58 |
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 | 28.1% | 388 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.2% | 320 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.1% | 208 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.7% | 203 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.7% | 162 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.3% | 114 |
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 | 257 | 24.1% |
| 30-60k | 486 | 27.2% |
| 60-90k | 513 | 29.2% |
| 90-120k | 118 | 33.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 331 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 301 | 28.9% |
| 2023 | 275 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 236 | 27.1% |
| 2025 | 238 | 27.7% |
What to check before buying a Suzuki Super Carry
- Lighting & signalling (19.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.9% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (10.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Super Carry?
72.0% of the 1,381 Suzuki Super Carry MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.0% fail rate, across model years 1986–2021.
What does the Suzuki Super Carry most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.0% of tests, then brakes (10.9%).
How much does mileage affect Super Carry MOT results?
Fail rates run at 24.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 33.9% for 90-120k, a 9.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,381 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.