Suzuki Wagon-R+: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Suzuki Wagon-R+ fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 15.2 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 7,560 individual Suzuki Wagon-R+ tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate61.5%
UK national average76.7%
Difference-15.2 points
Tests analysed7,560
Average mileage at test74,952 miles
Average year of manufacture2003
Reliability rank1,928 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 61.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 39 in every 100 Suzuki Wagon-R+s 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 Wagon-R+ tested had covered 74,952 miles and was built around 2003.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Suzuki Wagon-R+ sits 15.2 points below the national average, ranked 1,928 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 Wagon-R+ 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 Wagon-R+s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Suzuki Wagon-R+

  1. Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., 3.7% of tests (7.04x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 7% of tests (6.57x the national rate for this defect)
  3. 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, 3.6% of tests (3.78x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 4.7% of tests (3.6x the national rate for this defect)
  5. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4.4% of tests (2.86x the national rate for this defect)
  6. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 2.6% of tests (2.6x the national rate for this defect)
  7. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.1% of tests (2.29x the national rate for this defect)
  8. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2.9% of tests (2.25x the national rate for this defect)
  9. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4.9% of tests (2.2x the national rate for this defect)
  10. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 3.8% of tests (2x the national rate for this defect)

From 7,556 DVSA-tracked Suzuki Wagon-R+ tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.56% of these flagged Suzuki Wagon-R+ defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Suzuki Wagon-R+

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 Wagon-R+ before it actually fails on it.

  1. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 42% of tests (6.79x 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, 7.6% of tests (5x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  3. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 6% of tests (4.72x the national rate for this advisory)
  4. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 21.6% of tests (4.56x the national rate for this advisory)
  5. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 4.8% of tests (3.85x the national rate for this advisory)
  6. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 9.4% of tests (3.31x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  7. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 13.6% of tests (2.63x the national rate for this advisory)
  8. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 6.6% of tests (2.48x the national rate for this advisory)
  9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 12% of tests (2.16x the national rate for this advisory)
  10. A tyre seriously damaged, 25.8% of tests (1.67x the national rate for this advisory)

From 7,556 DVSA-tracked Suzuki Wagon-R+ tests, 2024.

Suzuki Wagon-R+ pass rate by model year

From its 2000 to its 2007 model year, the Suzuki Wagon-R+'s first-time pass rate has risen 13.8 points, from 52.5% to 66.3%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Suzuki Wagon-R+ year:

Other Suzuki models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Run a site about the Suzuki Wagon-R+? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

Suzuki Wagon-R+ MOT pass rate badge: 61.5%

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/suzuki-wagon-r"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/suzuki-wagon-r.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="Suzuki Wagon-R+ MOT Pass Rate: 61.5% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

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Suzuki Wagon-R+ most common MOT failure: Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. (3.7% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/suzuki-wagon-r"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/suzuki-wagon-r.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Suzuki Wagon-R+ most common MOT failure: Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. (3.7% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate