2017 Suzuki SX4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 17,932 MOT tests, the 2017 Suzuki SX4 recorded a 90.2% pass rate. Against small SUVs of a similar age (11.8% fail rate), the 2017 SX4 comes out 2.0pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.8%) and visibility (3.4%) 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 headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 902 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.1% once past 120-150k — 3.5× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.6% fail against 12.7% for diesel, a 3.1-point gap across 17,932 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 852 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.4% | 606 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.0% | 542 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 512 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 133 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 117 |
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 | 902 |
| 2 | Wipers | 559 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 459 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 336 |
| 5 | Washers | 154 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 144 |
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 | 22.3% | 4,000 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.5% | 3,141 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.0% | 1,435 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 609 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 413 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 376 |
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 | 5,868 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 8,911 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,644 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 423 | 20.1% |
| 120-150k | 76 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 16,381 | 9.6% |
| Diesel | 1,551 | 12.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,494 | 6.7% |
| 2022 | 3,594 | 8.7% |
| 2023 | 3,609 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 3,619 | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 3,616 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 SX4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.8% 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.
- Visibility (3.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (3.0% 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.
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 2017 Suzuki SX4s pass their MOT?
90.2% of the 17,932 2017 Suzuki SX4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Suzuki SX4?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by visibility (3.4%).
Does the 2017 SX4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,932 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.