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 rate | 61.5% |
| UK national average | 76.7% |
| Difference | -15.2 points |
| Tests analysed | 7,560 |
| Average mileage at test | 74,952 miles |
| Average year of manufacture | 2003 |
| Reliability rank | 1,928 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. On a Suzuki Wagon-R+ bought as a 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 what damaged Suzuki Wagon-R+s actually sold for at UK salvage auction.
Most common MOT failures on a Suzuki Wagon-R+
- 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., 3.2% of tests (7.96x the national rate for this defect)
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 6.1% of tests (7.35x the national rate for this defect)
- 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 (4.34x the national rate for this defect)
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 4% of tests (4.18x the national rate for this defect)
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.6% of tests (3.25x the national rate for this defect)
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 2.2% of tests (2.91x the national rate for this defect)
- Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2.4% of tests (2.62x the national rate for this defect)
- Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.6% of tests (2.61x the national rate for this defect)
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4% of tests (2.44x the national rate for this defect)
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 3.1% of tests (2.29x the national rate for this defect)
From 10,360 DVSA-tracked Suzuki Wagon-R+ tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.62% of these flagged Suzuki Wagon-R+ defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.
Suzuki Wagon-R+ pass rate by model year
Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each Suzuki Wagon-R+ year:
- 2000 Suzuki Wagon-R+ - 52.5% first-time pass, 341 tests
- 2001 Suzuki Wagon-R+ - 60.6% first-time pass, 742 tests
- 2002 Suzuki Wagon-R+ - 57.1% first-time pass, 1,137 tests
- 2003 Suzuki Wagon-R+ - 61.7% first-time pass, 1,469 tests
- 2004 Suzuki Wagon-R+ - 63.7% first-time pass, 1,539 tests
- 2005 Suzuki Wagon-R+ - 64.1% first-time pass, 1,209 tests
- 2006 Suzuki Wagon-R+ - 67.1% first-time pass, 516 tests
- 2007 Suzuki Wagon-R+ - 66.3% first-time pass, 478 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
- Renault Clio - 61.6%
- Renault Trafic - 61.6%
- Peugeot 406 - 61.6%
- Citroen C-Crosser - 61.5%
- Peugeot 407 - 61.3%
- Vauxhall Corsavan - 61.2%
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
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