2012 · 12 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2012 Suzuki Alto MOT pass rate and common faults

4,590 MOT tests in 2024. 65.1% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

101About average
Passed first time65.1%
Failed or needed repairs34.9%
Typical mileage at test59,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 4,590 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Stop lamp: not working5.1%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded4.6%
  3. Position lamp: not working4.5%
  4. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.1%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.9%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.6%
    156 marked dangerous
  7. Horn: not working2.1%
  8. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.9%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics20.1%
  2. Suspension12.3%
  3. Brakes12.3%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)8.8%
  5. Tyres6.5%
  6. Body & chassis3.3%
  7. Emissions & leaks2.3%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded24.8%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn18.2%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.7%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure12.4%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened10.1%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: stop lamp: not working. 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 2012 Suzuki Alto?

In 2024, 65.1% of 2012 Suzuki Alto cars passed their MOT first time, across 4,590 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Suzuki Alto?

The most common failure reasons were stop lamp: not working; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded; position lamp: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 Suzuki Alto reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 101, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).