Suzuki Wagon=R= MOT pass rate & common failures
60,008 MOT tests on the Suzuki Wagon=R= (1997–2021) give it a 72.3% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 29.1% of the time, so this is 1.4pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
Best and worst Wagon=R= years
Ranked across Wagon=R= years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2006 cars pass 75.9% of the time while 2000 cars manage 68.4%, a 7.5-point spread.
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.1%) and suspension (11.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and wipers — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 4,199 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.4% versus 18.7%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Wagon=R= model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 38 | 63.2% | 36.8% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1998 | 216 | 61.1% | 38.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1999 | 358 | 65.9% | 34.1% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2000 | 3,139 | 68.4% | 31.6% | Brakes |
| 2001 | 6,192 | 70.0% | 30.0% | Brakes |
| 2002 | 9,379 | 69.8% | 30.2% | Brakes |
| 2003 | 11,814 | 71.9% | 28.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 11,570 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 9,195 | 74.1% | 25.9% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 4,217 | 75.9% | 24.1% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 3,756 | 75.4% | 24.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 54 | 87.0% | 13.0% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 7,251 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.6% | 6,981 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.1% | 6,686 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 4,204 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.7% | 4,034 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.1% | 3,682 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 2,857 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.8% | 2,306 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 4,199 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,950 |
| 3 | Wipers | 2,869 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 2,774 |
| 5 | Joints | 2,173 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 2,110 |
| 7 | Stop lamp | 2,054 |
| 8 | Service brake performance | 1,781 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 40.2% | 24,142 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.8% | 19,668 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.0% | 17,435 |
| 4 | Other defects | 21.1% | 12,645 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.2% | 9,706 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.0% | 7,212 |
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 | 2,867 | 18.7% |
| 30-60k | 16,999 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 23,221 | 28.4% |
| 90-120k | 12,542 | 32.4% |
| 120-150k | 3,488 | 33.7% |
| 150k+ | 703 | 33.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,779 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 13,707 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 11,892 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 10,195 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 8,435 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a Suzuki Wagon=R=
- Lighting & signalling (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (11.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki Wagon=R=?
72.3% of the 60,008 Suzuki Wagon=R= MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.7% fail rate, across model years 1997–2021.
What does the Suzuki Wagon=R= most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.1% of tests, then suspension (11.6%).
Which Wagon=R= years are best and worst for MOT results?
2006 has the best pass rate at 75.9% and 2000 the weakest at 68.4%, from 4,217 and 3,139 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Wagon=R= MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 33.4% for 150k+, a 14.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 60,008 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.