Suzuki Jimny MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 409,788 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 31.7%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Suzuki Jimny MOT Reliability Overview
The Suzuki Jimny is a very popular vehicle in the UK, with 409,788 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 26 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.3% and a failure rate of 31.7%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Suzuki Jimny earns a "Good" reliability rating. The average Suzuki Jimny presents for MOT with approximately 58,584 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2023 models achieve the highest pass rate at 94.9%, while 1995 models have the lowest at 51.6%. This 43.3 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Suzuki Jimny is Brakes, affecting 30.9% of all tests. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. The second most common issue is Suspension at 24.7%. Body, chassis, structure rounds out the top three at 10.3%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
All manufacture years perform similarly at ~92.9%.
Based on 2024 MOT test results only — the most recent data available. "Built" = year of manufacture. Cars need their first MOT at 3 years old, so the newest cars shown are from ~3 years ago.
Bar chart showing pass rate by manufacture year from 2000 to 2020
| Built | Pass Rate | Tests | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 92.9% | 1,083 | 🏆 Best |
| 2019 | 92.6% | 1,591 | ✅ Great |
| 2017 | 82.3% | 1,316 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2016 | 81.3% | 1,366 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2018 | 79.7% | 585 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2014 | 79.3% | 1,112 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2012 | 76.8% | 1,038 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2013 | 75.7% | 1,270 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2015 | 75.6% | 1,310 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2009 | 71.8% | 1,054 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2011 | 70.2% | 645 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2010 | 69.2% | 780 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2008 | 67.3% | 1,546 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2007 | 65.5% | 2,249 | ❌ Avoid |
| 2003 | 63.1% | 2,217 | ❌ Avoid |
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Tracking how each manufacture year's MOT pass rate changes as the car ages. Showing 22 vintages — click year chips to highlight.
Multi-line chart showing how different Suzuki Jimny vintages degrade over time, from age 3 to 26 years.
Only vintages with 100+ tests in at least 3 different test years are shown. Fleet average is the UK-wide pass rate for all cars at each age.
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Suzuki Jimny. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 20 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Suzuki Jimny sees a significant jump in MOT failures after the warranty period. Failure rate increases by 51% once warranty cover ends. Budget for increased maintenance costs from year 4 onwards. Peak failure occurs at age 16 (40.7% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 34.7% | 142,121 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.5% | 108,690 |
| 3 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 17.7% | 72,514 |
| 4 | Tyres | 10.6% | 43,305 |
| 5 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 10.3% | 42,335 |
| 6 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 7.6% | 31,155 |
| 7 | Driver's View Of The Road | 7.1% | 29,202 |
| 8 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 5.3% | 21,640 |
| 9 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 4.5% | 18,311 |
| 10 | Body, Structure And General Items | 3.7% | 15,325 |
| 11 | Visibility | 3.3% | 13,717 |
| 12 | Steering | 2.9% | 11,840 |
| 13 | Non-component Advisories | 2.8% | 11,382 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 58,584 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 5.92 | 34.7% | 142,121 |
| Suspension | 4.53 | 26.5% | 108,690 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 3.02 | 17.7% | 72,514 |
| Body & Structure | 2.40 | 14.0% | 57,660 |
| Tyres | 1.80 | 10.6% | 43,305 |
| Visibility | 1.79 | 10.4% | 42,919 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 1.30 | 7.6% | 31,155 |
| Seat Belts | 0.90 | 5.3% | 21,640 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.76 | 4.5% | 18,311 |
| Steering | 0.49 | 2.9% | 11,840 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.47 | 2.8% | 11,382 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Suzuki Jimny has 58,584 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Suzuki Jimny has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.41% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Suzuki Jimny MOT Data
The Suzuki Jimny is a very popular vehicle in the UK, with 409,788 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 26 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.3% and a failure rate of 31.7%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Suzuki Jimny owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and suspension for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Jimny is likely to perform.
Brakes — 30.9% of failures
Brakes issues account for 30.9% of MOT failures on the Suzuki Jimny. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Suspension — 24.7% of failures
Suspension issues account for 24.7% of MOT failures on the Suzuki Jimny. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Body, chassis, structure — 10.3% of failures
Body, chassis, structure issues account for 10.3% of MOT failures on the Suzuki Jimny. Body and structure failures include excessive corrosion, sharp edges, loose panels, and damage to the vehicle frame. Rust is the primary concern, especially on older vehicles or those exposed to road salt. Typical repair costs: £100–500+. Pre-MOT check: Inspect sills, wheel arches, door bottoms, and the chassis for rust. Surface rust is acceptable but structural corrosion or holes will fail. Check that all doors, bonnet, and boot close securely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki Jimny?
Based on 409,788 MOT tests in our database, the Suzuki Jimny has an overall pass rate of 68.3% (31.7% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Suzuki Jimny?
The top 3 reasons a Suzuki Jimny fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (30.9%), 2. Suspension (24.7%), 3. Body, chassis, structure (10.3%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Suzuki Jimny reliable?
With a 31.7% MOT failure rate, the Jimny is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Suzuki Jimny?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (30.9%); Suspension (24.7%); Body, chassis, structure (10.3%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.