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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2007 Suzuki SX4 MOT fail rate and common faults

How Suzuki SX4 cars first used in 2007 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 9,938 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 18 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 18 (n=1,998)50.6%
All cars at 18 years (n=3,261,622)43.3%
Difference+7.3 pts
MOT tests of 2007 cars, 2022 to 20259,938

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 18 years old, Suzuki SX4 cars first used in 2007 failed 50.6% of MOTs (1,998 tests), 7.3 points above the 43.3% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 15 to 18 years old, the fail rate moved from 48.3% to 50.6%.
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Suzuki SX4 at 18 years, is suspension ball joint worn, at 9.4 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.4).

MOT fail rate by test year

Suzuki SX4 cars first used in 2007: 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 yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
202215 years48.3%2,92041.6%+6.7 pts
202316 years48.1%2,68542.6%+5.5 pts
202417 years49.0%2,33543.1%+5.9 pts
202518 years50.6%1,99843.3%+7.3 pts

Most common faults at 18 years

These figures cover all Suzuki SX4 MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2006 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=2,909). 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 itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Suspension ball joint worn9.42.4
Side/position light not working Wear8.95.6
Coil spring broken8.63.1
Engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault8.62.5
Brake light not working Wear6.24.0
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded4.62.2
Wipers not clearing screen Wear4.63.0
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear4.12.9
Service brake performance: excessively binding3.11.5
Handbrake too weak2.92.8

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=2,909). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material22.312.3
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear18.417.4
Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement13.38.5
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear12.79.8
Coil spring: corroded11.67.7
Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened9.15.3
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive8.612.6
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened7.611.1
Flexible brake hoses: has slight corrosion to ferrule7.62.4
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear7.65.8

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=2,909). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 18 years

These figures cover all Suzuki SX4 MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2006 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=2,909). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Petrol95.3%50.3%2,77143.2%96,828 miles

Car tax rules for a 2007 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.
  • Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2007 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
  • 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 SX4

Other Suzuki models first used in 2007

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Suzuki Swift (2007)18 years in 202548.3%6,07043.3%
Suzuki Grand Vitara (2007)18 years in 202539.7%1,86743.3%
Suzuki Jimny (2007)18 years in 202540.1%1,54843.3%
Suzuki Ignis (2007)17 years in 202443.1%1,06943.1%

More on the Suzuki SX4

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 2007 Suzuki SX4 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.