2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 Suzuki Alto MOT pass rate and common faults

389 MOT tests in 2024. 43.2% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

75Well below average
Passed first time43.2%
Failed or needed repairs56.8%
Typical mileage at test54,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 389 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt9.8%
  2. Service brake imbalance: across an axle8.7%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn7.2%
  4. Service brake performance: excessively binding6.4%
  5. Stop lamp: not working6.2%
  6. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction5.9%
  7. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded5.9%
  8. Position lamp: not working5.7%
  9. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength5.7%
  10. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm5.4%
    28 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Brakes40.4%
  2. Suspension29.6%
  3. Lights & electrics27.5%
  4. Body & chassis20.8%
  5. Emissions & leaks16.2%
  6. Tyres10.8%
  7. Steering8.5%
  8. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded33.4%
  2. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened21.1%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.7%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure13.6%
  5. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine10.8%

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.

All Alto years2004 Alto →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2003 Suzuki Alto?

In 2024, 43.2% of 2003 Suzuki Alto cars passed their MOT first time, across 389 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 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 2003 Suzuki Alto reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 75, which is well below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).