In 2025, 45,461 Suzuki Alto cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 65% passed first time, compared with 64% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Alto about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 130 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 10 years old, 69% of Altos passed first time (all cars that age: 72%). By 20 years, that figure is 48% (all cars: 58%). It trails the average car at most ages, most noticeably at 20 years (9 points behind).
Suzuki Alto All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Alto passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 years | 1,786 | 69% | 72% | 52,682 |
| 11 years | 12,493 | 68% | 69% | 55,190 |
| 12 years | 11,375 | 67% | 66% | 61,249 |
| 13 years | 4,412 | 65% | 63% | 65,554 |
| 14 years | 4,240 | 63% | 61% | 69,450 |
| 15 years | 4,107 | 60% | 59% | 72,073 |
| 16 years | 4,717 | 61% | 58% | 71,704 |
| 19 years | 508 | 48% | 57% | 57,422 |
| 20 years | 788 | 48% | 58% | 57,124 |
What fails most on a Suzuki Alto
The area that lets the Alto down most, relative to other cars, is seat belts and airbags: 1.1% of tests failed on it, 3.4 times the rate for the average car.
Share of Alto tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 7.5% |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 6.0% |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | Visibility | 5.7% |
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | Brakes | 5.2% |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 4.9% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 3.9% |
What to check when buying a used Alto
Based on where the Alto fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Seat belts and airbags: Pull every belt out fully and let it retract, check the buckles latch, and make sure the airbag light goes out after starting. More
- Visibility: Check the windscreen for chips in the driver’s view, the wipers for smearing and the washers for working jets. Repair guide
- Lights and electrics: Walk round with the lights on: headlights (dipped and main), indicators, brake lights, number-plate and fog lights. Bulbs are cheap, but a seller who hasn’t noticed one out may have missed more. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific Alto
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a AltoFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Suzuki Alto?
In 2025, 65% of Suzuki Alto cars passed their MOT first time, across 45,461 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 64%.
What do Suzuki Alto cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (7.5% of tests); a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (6.0% of tests); wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen (5.7% of tests).
Other Suzuki models
Suzuki Swift (69%), Suzuki Vitara (82%), Suzuki SX4 (69%), Suzuki Celerio (83%), Suzuki Jimny (69%), Suzuki Ignis (75%). All Suzuki models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.