MOT fail rates by first-use year
2010 Suzuki Alto MOT fail rate and common faults
How Suzuki Alto cars first used in 2010 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 17,938 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 15 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 15 years old, Suzuki Alto cars first used in 2010 failed 39.5% of MOTs (4,136 tests), 2.1 points below the 41.6% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 12 to 15 years old, the fail rate moved from 35.8% to 39.5%.
- Suzuki Alto cars first used a year earlier, in 2009, failed 38.7% at the same age of 15 years (5,242 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Suzuki Alto at 15 years, is rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded, at 4.4 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 1.3).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 12 years | 35.8% | 4,757 | 36.0% | −0.2 pts |
| 2023 | 13 years | 35.9% | 4,616 | 38.3% | −2.4 pts |
| 2024 | 14 years | 39.4% | 4,429 | 40.3% | −0.8 pts |
| 2025 | 15 years | 39.5% | 4,136 | 41.6% | −2.1 pts |
Most common faults at 15 years
These figures cover all Suzuki Alto MOTs at 15 years: cars first used 2009 to 2010, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=9,379). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Brake light not working Wear | 6.4 | 3.7 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 6.1 | 5.8 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 4.5 | 2.4 |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | 4.4 | 1.3 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Wear | 3.1 | 2.0 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 2.9 | 3.1 |
| Horn: not working Wear | 2.4 | 0.5 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| Suspension arm bush worn | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear | 1.9 | 2.5 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=9,379). 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 | 26.0 | 7.2 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 16.3 | 18.4 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 16.0 | 8.5 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 15.1 | 7.0 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 12.4 | 9.4 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear | 9.2 | 5.9 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 8.0 | 11.1 |
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated | 6.5 | 3.0 |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened | 5.3 | 2.6 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 4.4 | 6.9 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=9,379). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 15 years
These figures cover all Suzuki Alto MOTs at 15 years: cars first used 2009 to 2010, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=9,379). 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% | 39.0% | 9,376 | 41.5% | 68,990 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 15 years
These figures cover all Suzuki Alto MOTs at 15 years: cars first used 2009 to 2010, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=9,379). At 15 years, Suzuki Alto cars at 90,000 to 120,000 miles failed more often (47.5%, n=1,765) than those at 30,000 to 60,000 miles (32.4%, n=2,771). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30,000 to 60,000 miles | 32.4% | 2,771 | 31.4% |
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 42.7% | 3,441 | 40.5% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 47.5% | 1,765 | 45.1% |
Car tax rules for a 2010 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
- Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- 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
Other Suzuki models first used in 2010
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Swift (2010) | 15 years in 2025 | 43.9% | 5,723 | 41.6% |
| Suzuki SX4 (2010) | 15 years in 2025 | 44.9% | 1,910 | 41.6% |
| Suzuki Grand Vitara (2010) | 15 years in 2025 | 34.9% | 1,600 | 41.6% |
| Suzuki Splash (2010) | 15 years in 2025 | 44.2% | 1,399 | 41.6% |
More on the Suzuki Alto
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2010 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.
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.