2021 Suzuki SX4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,617 MOT tests, the 2021 Suzuki SX4 recorded a 95.4% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 7.2% of the time, so this is 2.5pp 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 (3.6%) and lighting & signalling (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 169 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 12.8% versus 3.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 7.4% in 2023 to 5.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.6% | 132 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 120 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.2% | 78 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 39 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 12 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 169 |
| 2 | Wipers | 144 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 65 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 17 |
| 5 | Washers | 16 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 14 |
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 | 15.7% | 567 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.9% | 249 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.6% | 165 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 95 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 52 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 22 |
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 | 2,322 | 3.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,197 | 6.9% |
| 60-90k | 86 | 12.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 54 | 7.4% |
| 2024 | 1,761 | 4.0% |
| 2025 | 1,798 | 5.2% |
What to check before buying a 2021 SX4
On a 2021 SX4, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (3.6% 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 (3.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.2% 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.
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 2021 Suzuki SX4s pass their MOT?
95.4% of the 3,617 2021 Suzuki SX4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Suzuki SX4?
Visibility, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.3%).
Does the 2021 SX4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.2% in the 0-30k band to 12.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,617 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.