Suzuki Carry: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Suzuki Carry fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 13.6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 3,865 individual Suzuki Carry tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 63.1% first-time pass rate means roughly 37 in every 100 Suzuki Carries presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Suzuki Carry tested had covered 85,236 miles and was built around 2004.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Suzuki Carry sits 13.6 points below the national average, ranked 1,894 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Suzuki Carry rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Suzuki Carries at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Suzuki Carry

1. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 18.3% of tests (19.43x the national rate for this defect)
2. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 7.3% of tests (17.59x the national rate for this defect)
3. Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 3.1% of tests (13.67x the national rate for this defect)
4. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.4% of tests (8.82x the national rate for this defect)
5. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 2.6% of tests (7.31x the national rate for this defect)
6. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 3.6% of tests (7.15x the national rate for this defect)
7. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 4.6% of tests (4.33x the national rate for this defect)
8. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3.8% of tests (3.76x the national rate for this defect)
9. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 4.5% of tests (3.52x the national rate for this defect)
10. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 3.4% of tests (2.74x the national rate for this defect)

From 3,865 DVSA-tracked Suzuki Carry tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.68% of these flagged Suzuki Carry defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Suzuki Carry

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Suzuki Carry before it actually fails on it.

1. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 16.7% of tests (13.41x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
2. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 14.6% of tests (9.65x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 5.2% of tests (4.06x the national rate for this advisory)
4. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 24.5% of tests (3.95x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
5. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 4.2% of tests (3.76x the national rate for this advisory)
6. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 7.8% of tests (2.73x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.6% of tests (1.74x the national rate for this advisory)
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 22.4% of tests (1.67x the national rate for this advisory)
9. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 6.5% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this advisory)
10. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 6.7% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this advisory)

From 3,865 DVSA-tracked Suzuki Carry tests, 2024.

Suzuki Carry pass rate by model year

From its 2002 to its 2005 model year, the Suzuki Carry's first-time pass rate has fallen 0.3 points, from 63.9% to 63.6%, an unusual pattern where even its newest years fail more than its oldest. First-time pass rate for each Suzuki Carry year:

• 2001 Suzuki Carry - 63.7% first-time pass, 259 tests
• 2002 Suzuki Carry - 63.9% first-time pass, 435 tests
• 2003 Suzuki Carry - 62.7% first-time pass, 673 tests
• 2004 Suzuki Carry - 60.1% first-time pass, 973 tests
• 2005 Suzuki Carry - 63.6% first-time pass, 939 tests

Other Suzuki models

• Suzuki Swift - 77.3%
• Suzuki Vitara - 88.6%
• Suzuki Alto - 74%
• Suzuki Sx4 - 75%
• Suzuki Celerio - 90%
• Suzuki Jimny - 72.9%
• Suzuki Ignis - 79.8%
• Suzuki Grand Vitara - 68.2%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Volvo S40 - 63.2%
• Peugeot 306 - 63.2%
• Isuzu Tf - 63.2%
• Mazda Cx-7 - 63.1%
• Fiat Punto Evo - 63%
• Hyundai Terracan - 63%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate