2004 · 20 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2004 Suzuki Alto MOT pass rate and common faults

880 MOT tests in 2024. 47.9% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

85Well below average
Passed first time47.9%
Failed or needed repairs52.0%
Typical mileage at test55,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 880 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt9.9%
  2. Service brake imbalance: across an axle9.7%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn7.6%
  4. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction7.2%
  5. Stop lamp: not working5.1%
  6. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded5.0%
  7. Position lamp: not working4.9%
  8. Service brake performance: efficiency below requirements4.4%
  9. Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.9%
  10. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.9%
    59 marked dangerous

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Brakes36.1%
  2. Lights & electrics26.4%
  3. Suspension24.9%
  4. Body & chassis23.3%
  5. Emissions & leaks16.4%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)10.0%
  7. Tyres8.6%
  8. Steering5.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded26.7%
  2. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened18.9%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure14.9%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.7%
  5. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine14.2%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Suzuki Alto?

In 2024, 47.9% of 2004 Suzuki Alto cars passed their MOT first time, across 880 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Suzuki Alto?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; service brake imbalance: across an axle; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2004 Suzuki Alto reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 85, which is well below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).