2019 Suzuki SX4 — MOT failures & pass rate
8,774 MOT tests on the 2019 Suzuki SX4 are in this dataset, and 93.9% of them passed. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 8.8% of the time, so this is 2.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (3.3%) and lighting & signalling (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 320 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 8.6% versus 4.1%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 2.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.3% | 291 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 266 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.8% | 245 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 136 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 34 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 30 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 320 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 271 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 219 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 105 |
| 5 | Washers | 59 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 31 |
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 | 18.6% | 1,629 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.9% | 957 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.0% | 437 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 265 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.7% | 146 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 61 |
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 | 5,422 | 4.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,945 | 8.9% |
| 60-90k | 365 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 35 | 8.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 8,730 | 6.1% |
| Diesel | 44 | 13.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 2.3% |
| 2022 | 2,197 | 4.5% |
| 2023 | 2,189 | 5.2% |
| 2024 | 2,126 | 6.9% |
| 2025 | 2,173 | 8.0% |
What to check before buying a 2019 SX4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 3.3% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (3.3% 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.
- Tyres (2.8% 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.
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 2019 Suzuki SX4s pass their MOT?
93.9% of the 8,774 2019 Suzuki SX4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Suzuki SX4?
Visibility, recorded in 3.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.0%).
Does the 2019 SX4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.1% in the 0-30k band to 8.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,774 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.