Suzuki Z400 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 219 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 17.4%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Suzuki Z400 MOT Reliability Overview
The Suzuki Z400 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 219 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.6% and a failure rate of 17.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Suzuki Z400 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Suzuki Z400 presents for MOT with approximately 5,644 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2005 models achieve the highest pass rate at 73.8%, while 2006 models have the lowest at 72.1%. This 1.7 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Suzuki Z400 is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 17.4% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Brakes at 9.6%. Steering rounds out the top three at 5.0%. 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
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* 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 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 25.6% | 56 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 22 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 5.9% | 13 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.9% | 13 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.0% | 11 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.7% | 8 |
| 7 | Registration Plates And Vin | 3.2% | 7 |
| 8 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 2.3% | 5 |
| 9 | Driver's View Of The Road | 1.8% | 4 |
| 10 | Road Wheels | 1.4% | 3 |
| 11 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 1.4% | 3 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 1.4% | 3 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 0.9% | 2 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 0.5% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 5,644 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 45.31 | 25.6% | 56 |
| Brakes | 17.80 | 10.0% | 22 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 10.52 | 5.9% | 13 |
| Suspension | 10.52 | 5.9% | 13 |
| Steering | 8.90 | 5.0% | 11 |
| Tyres | 6.47 | 3.7% | 8 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 5.66 | 3.2% | 7 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 4.05 | 2.3% | 5 |
| Visibility | 3.24 | 1.8% | 4 |
| Wheels | 2.43 | 1.4% | 3 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.43 | 1.4% | 3 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 2.43 | 1.4% | 3 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 1.62 | 0.9% | 2 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.81 | 0.5% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Suzuki Z400 has 5,644 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 Z400 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 30.83% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Suzuki Z400 MOT Data
The Suzuki Z400 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 219 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.6% and a failure rate of 17.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Suzuki Z400 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and brakes 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 Z400 is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.4% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 17.4% of MOT failures on the Suzuki Z400. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Brakes — 9.6% of failures
Brakes issues account for 9.6% of MOT failures on the Suzuki Z400. 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).
Steering — 5.0% of failures
Steering issues account for 5.0% of MOT failures on the Suzuki Z400. Steering failures include excessive play in the steering wheel, leaking power steering fluid, worn track rod ends, and damaged steering rack. These affect vehicle control and are closely related to suspension wear. Typical repair costs: £150–600. Pre-MOT check: Check for excessive steering wheel play (more than a few inches of free movement). Listen for whining from the power steering pump. Look for fluid leaks under the car near the front wheels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki Z400?
Based on 219 MOT tests in our database, the Suzuki Z400 has an overall pass rate of 82.6% (17.4% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Suzuki Z400?
The top 3 reasons a Suzuki Z400 fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (17.4%), 2. Brakes (9.6%), 3. Steering (5.0%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Suzuki Z400 reliable?
With a 17.4% MOT failure rate, the Z400 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Suzuki Z400?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (17.4%); Brakes (9.6%); Steering (5.0%). 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.