2018 Suzuki SX4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Suzuki SX4 passed 92.0% of its 14,806 recorded MOT tests. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 9.8% of the time, so this is 1.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.2%) 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 622 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.2% versus 5.3%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.9pp more often than petrol ones (11.7% vs 7.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 621 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.4% | 500 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 446 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.0% | 296 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 58 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 48 |
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 | 622 |
| 2 | Wipers | 514 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 434 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 222 |
| 5 | Washers | 88 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 49 |
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 | 20.9% | 3,100 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.4% | 1,983 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.6% | 976 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 409 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 178 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 161 |
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 | 7,292 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 6,136 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,195 | 13.8% |
| 90-120k | 154 | 16.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 14,098 | 7.8% |
| Diesel | 708 | 11.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,982 | 5.4% |
| 2022 | 2,938 | 7.1% |
| 2023 | 2,944 | 7.7% |
| 2024 | 2,947 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 2,995 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a 2018 SX4
On a 2018 SX4, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.0% 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 2018 Suzuki SX4s pass their MOT?
92.0% of the 14,806 2018 Suzuki SX4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Suzuki SX4?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by visibility (3.4%).
Does the 2018 SX4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 16.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,806 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.