MOT fail rates by first-use year

2004 Suzuki Alto MOT fail rate and common faults

How Suzuki Alto cars first used in 2004 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2023, against all cars of the same age. From 2,575 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026

At 19 years, tested in 2023

MOT fail rate at age 19 (n=1,131)52.5%

All cars at 19 years (n=2,479,858)43.2%

Difference+9.3 pts

MOT tests of 2004 cars, 2022 to 20232,575

What stands out

In 2023, at 19 years old, Suzuki Alto cars first used in 2004 failed 52.5% of MOTs (1,131 tests), 9.3 points above the 43.2% for all cars that age.
From 2022 to 2023, as these cars went from 18 to 19 years old, the fail rate moved from 51.3% to 52.5%.
The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Suzuki Alto at 19 years, is driveshaft CV boot split, at 10.2 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 3.2).

MOT fail rate by test year

Suzuki Alto cars first used in 2004: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test year	Age	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars	Difference
2022	18 years	51.3%	1,444	43.3%	+8.1 pts
2023	19 years	52.5%	1,131	43.2%	+9.3 pts

Most common faults at 19 years

These figures cover all Suzuki Alto MOTs at 19 years: cars first used 2003 to 2006, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=3,300). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail item	Per 100 MOTs	All cars
Driveshaft CV boot split	10.2	3.2
Service brake imbalance: across an axle	8.5	0.9
Brake light not working Wear	7.7	4.0
Engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault	7.0	2.6
Suspension ball joint worn	6.7	2.4
Side/position light not working Wear	5.9	5.4
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded	4.9	2.5
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear	4.5	2.8
Wipers not clearing screen Wear	4.4	3.3
Service brake performance: excessively binding	4.0	1.5

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=3,300). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

Advisory	Per 100 MOTs	All cars
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material	28.3	14.1
Coil spring: corroded	18.9	7.9
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear	15.7	16.6
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear	13.6	9.9
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive	12.9	13.2
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened	9.1	10.8
Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened	8.1	2.9
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases	8.0	5.3
Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated	7.6	3.9
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive	6.5	3.1

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=3,300). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 19 years

These figures cover all Suzuki Alto MOTs at 19 years: cars first used 2003 to 2006, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=3,300). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Fuel	Share of tests	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars, same fuel	Median mileage
Petrol	100.0%	51.5%	3,300	43.0%	53,943 miles

Car tax rules for a 2004 car

Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

Many petrol cars first registered from 2001 to 2005 already meet Euro 4, but not all of them. For a 2004 petrol car the Euro standard of that car decides.
The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Suzuki Alto

2005 Suzuki Alto

Other Suzuki models first used in 2004

Model	Age at test	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars
Suzuki Grand Vitara (2004)	21 years in 2025	40.0%	1,649	42.1%
Suzuki Jimny (2004)	21 years in 2025	39.5%	1,875	42.1%
Suzuki Wagon R+ (2004)	21 years in 2025	42.2%	1,321	42.1%
Suzuki Ignis (2004)	21 years in 2025	41.6%	1,014	42.1%

More on the Suzuki Alto

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2004 Suzuki Alto cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.