2000 Suzuki Wagon=R= — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,139 MOT tests, the 2000 Suzuki Wagon=R= recorded a 68.4% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), the 2000 Wagon=R= comes out 3.5pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (17.6%) and lighting & signalling (15.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake imbalance, rigid brake pipes and service brake performance — service brake imbalance alone was recorded 244 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 28.2% in the 0-30k band and 33.2% in the 120-150k band, a 5.0-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 45.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 30.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.6% | 552 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 479 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.3% | 387 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.4% | 234 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 229 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.1% | 223 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake imbalance | 244 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 228 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 223 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 188 |
| 5 | Wipers | 186 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 184 |
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 | 45.0% | 1,411 |
| 2 | Suspension | 40.0% | 1,257 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.9% | 970 |
| 4 | Other defects | 30.7% | 965 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 19.2% | 604 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.7% | 556 |
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 | 117 | 28.2% |
| 30-60k | 750 | 29.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,286 | 31.9% |
| 90-120k | 717 | 33.2% |
| 120-150k | 223 | 33.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 932 | 30.7% |
| 2022 | 769 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 592 | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 477 | 34.4% |
| 2025 | 369 | 33.9% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Wagon=R=
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 17.6% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (17.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.3% 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.
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 2000 Suzuki Wagon=R=s pass their MOT?
68.4% of the 3,139 2000 Suzuki Wagon=R= MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Suzuki Wagon=R=?
Brakes, recorded in 17.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.3%).
Does the 2000 Wagon=R= get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.2% in the 0-30k band to 33.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,139 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.