1997 Suzuki Super Carry — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1997 Suzuki Super Carry passed 67.9% of its 271 recorded MOT tests. That is 7.0 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests against 15.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and rear fog lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 60 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 36.9% versus 26.2%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 54 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 15.9% | 43 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 29 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.9% | 24 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.5% | 23 |
| 6 | Brakes | 8.5% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 60 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 36 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 28 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 22 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 6 | Wipers | 18 |
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 | 23.3% | 63 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.7% | 56 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.9% | 54 |
| 4 | Tyres | 14.4% | 39 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.1% | 30 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.2% | 25 |
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 | 42 | 26.2% |
| 30-60k | 81 | 25.9% |
| 60-90k | 130 | 36.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 63 | 25.4% |
| 2022 | 62 | 33.9% |
| 2023 | 57 | 35.1% |
| 2024 | 53 | 39.6% |
| 2025 | 36 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Super Carry
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (15.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1997 Suzuki Super Carrys pass their MOT?
67.9% of the 271 1997 Suzuki Super Carry MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Suzuki Super Carry?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (15.9%).
Does the 1997 Super Carry get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.2% in the 0-30k band to 36.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 271 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.