2016 Suzuki SX4 — MOT failures & pass rate
19,091 MOT tests on the 2016 Suzuki SX4 are in this dataset, and 88.7% of them passed. That is 2.8 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 14.1%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.9%) and lighting & signalling (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 803 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.2% versus 5.5%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.0pp more often than petrol ones (15.3% vs 10.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 926 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 815 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.5% | 675 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 675 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 255 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 90 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 803 |
| 2 | Wipers | 590 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 339 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 311 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 242 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 239 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.8% | 4,549 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.0% | 4,004 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.0% | 1,711 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.1% | 780 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 591 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 374 |
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 | 3,535 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 9,460 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 4,655 | 15.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,180 | 20.3% |
| 120-150k | 198 | 24.8% |
| 150k+ | 63 | 22.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 15,439 | 10.3% |
| Diesel | 3,645 | 15.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,749 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 3,761 | 9.4% |
| 2023 | 3,853 | 11.6% |
| 2024 | 3,860 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 3,868 | 13.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 SX4
On a 2016 SX4, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.5% 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.
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 2016 Suzuki SX4s pass their MOT?
88.7% of the 19,091 2016 Suzuki SX4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Suzuki SX4?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.3%).
Does the 2016 SX4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 22.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,091 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.