2012 Suzuki SX4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Suzuki SX4 passed 73.6% of its 13,326 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.2 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 22.2%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 17.3% of all tests — 7.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, rigid brake pipes and ball joint — coil spring alone was recorded 1,494 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.8% versus 18.5%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 26.2% of the time against 27.1% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.3% | 2,299 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 1,332 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 1,112 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.0% | 665 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 590 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 253 |
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 | 1,494 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 890 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 725 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 567 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 465 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 455 |
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 | 35.9% | 4,784 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.4% | 4,057 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.9% | 3,449 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.9% | 1,054 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 819 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 710 |
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 | 791 | 18.5% |
| 30-60k | 4,422 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 5,004 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 2,365 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 618 | 32.4% |
| 150k+ | 121 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,647 | 26.2% |
| Diesel | 2,675 | 27.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,673 | 24.2% |
| 2022 | 2,737 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 2,734 | 27.9% |
| 2024 | 2,648 | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 2,534 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2012 SX4
On a 2012 SX4, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (17.3% 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 (10.0% 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 (8.3% 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 SX4s pass their MOT?
73.6% of the 13,326 2012 Suzuki SX4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Suzuki SX4?
Suspension, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by brakes (10.0%).
Does the 2012 SX4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.5% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,326 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.