2006 Suzuki Alto MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 47.9% of Suzuki Altos first used in 2006 passed their MOT first time, against 57.0% for all cars first used in 2006. Across 1,949 Alto first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were brakes, lamps and electrical equipment and body, chassis and structure.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Suzuki Altos first used in 2006 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
47.9%
of 509 first tests; all cars first used in 2006: 57.0%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
1,949
first tests, 2023–2025; 509 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
14.7%
of 509 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
53,500
middle half: 39,000–72,000 miles; all cars first used in 2006: 106,500

How the 2006 Suzuki Alto MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Altos first used in 2006 against all cars first used in 2006 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Alto figure was 9.1 points lower.

2006 AltoAll cars first used in 2006
40%50%60%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2006, test year 2021: 55.5%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2022: 56%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2023: 56.2%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2024: 56.1%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2025: 57%2006 Alto, test year 2021: 48.6%2006 Alto, test year 2022: 48.3%2006 Alto, test year 2023: 50.1%2006 Alto, test year 2024: 46.7%2006 Alto, test year 2025: 47.9%57%47.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year2006 AltoAll cars first used 2006Alto first tests
202148.6%55.5%1,214
202248.3%56.0%955
202350.1%56.2%811
202446.7%56.1%629
202547.9%57.0%509

Common 2006 Suzuki Alto MOT failures

Share of the 1,005 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Brakes45.0%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment40.1%
Body, chassis, structure34.0%
Suspension33.9%
Visibility18.5%
Noise, emissions and leaks17.1%
Tyres16.2%
Steering6.6%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt21.0%211
Service brake imbalance: across an axle20.7%208
Stop lamp: not working13.5%136
Position lamp: not working13.2%133
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction10.5%106

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2006 Suzuki Alto before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
  2. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  3. Body and underside. Worth looking underneath with a torch at the sills, floor and mountings for corrosion, and at the rubber boots on the drive shafts for splits.

Common 2006 Suzuki Alto MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2006 Altos, as a share of all 1,949 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material26.6%518
Coil spring: corroded20.7%404
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge15.5%303
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing14.4%280
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive11.0%215

Questions about the 2006 Suzuki Alto MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2006 Suzuki Alto?

In 2025, 47.9% of Altos first used in 2006 passed their MOT first time, against 57.0% for all cars first used in 2006. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2006 Alto most often fail its MOT on?

Brakes (in 45.0% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (40.1%) and body, chassis and structure (34.0%). The single most common item was “Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” (21.0%).

How often does a 2006 Suzuki Alto fail its MOT?

In 2025, 52.1% of first tests on Altos first used in 2006 did not pass first time: 44.4% failed, and a further 7.7% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,005 of 1,949 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2006 Suzuki Alto MOT advisories?

“Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (on 26.6% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Coil spring: corroded” (20.7%), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (15.5%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (14.4%) and “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (11.0%).

Is a 2006 Suzuki Alto reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 48.6% in 2021 to 47.9% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2006

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2006 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2006 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2006 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2006 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2006 MINI Hatch MOT statistics

How the 2006 Suzuki Alto MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2006 Alto” means a Suzuki Alto whose date of first use falls in 2006 (55, 06 and 56 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2006, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.