2011 Suzuki SX4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 15,276 MOT tests, the 2011 Suzuki SX4 recorded a 73.2% pass rate. Against small SUVs of a similar age (23.6% fail rate), the 2011 SX4 comes out 3.2pp worse. 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 11.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, rigid brake pipes and ball joint — coil spring alone was recorded 1,609 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.1% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 26.5% fail against 28.1% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 15,276 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.2% | 2,634 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.3% | 1,730 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 1,374 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.5% | 686 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 654 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 363 |
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 | 1,609 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,205 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 907 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 585 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 553 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 541 |
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 | 38.7% | 5,910 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.4% | 5,263 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.2% | 4,000 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.7% | 1,330 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 1,194 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 1,068 |
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 | 611 | 16.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,902 | 22.5% |
| 60-90k | 6,081 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 3,395 | 30.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,028 | 31.8% |
| 150k+ | 254 | 33.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,647 | 26.5% |
| Diesel | 2,629 | 28.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,154 | 25.3% |
| 2022 | 3,102 | 25.5% |
| 2023 | 3,126 | 27.5% |
| 2024 | 3,043 | 27.8% |
| 2025 | 2,851 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a 2011 SX4
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 (11.3% 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 (9.0% 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 SX4s pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 15,276 2011 Suzuki SX4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Suzuki SX4?
Suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by brakes (11.3%).
Does the 2011 SX4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.0% in the 0-30k band to 33.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,276 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.