2002 Suzuki Wagon=R= — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Suzuki Wagon=R= passed 69.8% of its 9,379 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.0 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 29.1%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (15.4%) and lighting & signalling (15.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake imbalance, service brake performance and rigid brake pipes — service brake imbalance alone was recorded 584 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 40.7% versus 21.4%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 41.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.4% | 1,443 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 1,413 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.9% | 1,213 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.5% | 703 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 697 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 585 |
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 | 584 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 583 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 555 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 535 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 533 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 507 |
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 | 41.8% | 3,917 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.4% | 3,228 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.0% | 2,818 |
| 4 | Other defects | 19.3% | 1,805 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.0% | 1,785 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 1,392 |
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 | 454 | 21.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,573 | 25.1% |
| 60-90k | 3,764 | 31.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,905 | 34.0% |
| 120-150k | 543 | 37.9% |
| 150k+ | 86 | 40.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,582 | 30.5% |
| 2022 | 2,197 | 29.4% |
| 2023 | 1,831 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 1,550 | 31.7% |
| 2025 | 1,219 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Wagon=R=
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 15.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (15.4% 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 (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.9% 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 2002 Suzuki Wagon=R=s pass their MOT?
69.8% of the 9,379 2002 Suzuki Wagon=R= MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Suzuki Wagon=R=?
Brakes, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.1%).
Does the 2002 Wagon=R= get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.4% in the 0-30k band to 40.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,379 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.