2012 Suzuki Alto MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 64.7% of Suzuki Altos first used in 2012 passed their MOT first time, against 63.5% for all cars first used in 2012. Across 13,786 Alto first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and brakes.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Suzuki Altos first used in 2012 (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
64.7%
of 4,413 first tests; all cars first used in 2012: 63.5%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
13,786
first tests, 2023–2025; 4,413 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
23.2%
of 4,413 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
63,000
middle half: 44,000–83,500 miles; all cars first used in 2012: 92,000

How the 2012 Suzuki Alto MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Altos first used in 2012 against all cars first used in 2012 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Alto figure was in line with the all-cars figure.

2012 AltoAll cars first used in 2012
60%70%80%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2012, test year 2021: 68.8%All cars first used in 2012, test year 2022: 67.4%All cars first used in 2012, test year 2023: 65.6%All cars first used in 2012, test year 2024: 64.3%All cars first used in 2012, test year 2025: 63.5%2012 Alto, test year 2021: 71.3%2012 Alto, test year 2022: 69.4%2012 Alto, test year 2023: 67%2012 Alto, test year 2024: 65.1%2012 Alto, test year 2025: 64.7%64.7%63.5%
View this chart as a table
Test year2012 AltoAll cars first used 2012Alto first tests
202171.3%68.8%4,880
202269.4%67.4%4,831
202367.0%65.6%4,780
202465.1%64.3%4,593
202564.7%63.5%4,413

Common 2012 Suzuki Alto MOT failures

Share of the 4,739 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%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment44.6%
Suspension28.3%
Brakes27.3%
Visibility22.7%
Tyres17.4%
Body, chassis, structure9.5%
Noise, emissions and leaks5.8%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems3.8%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Stop lamp: not working15.2%722
Position lamp: not working14.2%675
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded13.5%641
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively13.5%638
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm8.3%391

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

What to check on a 2012 Suzuki Alto before buying

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

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. 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.

Common 2012 Suzuki Alto MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2012 Altos, as a share of all 13,786 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material24.0%3,310
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement17.8%2,456
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge16.7%2,308
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing12.1%1,670
Coil spring: corroded10.0%1,373

Questions about the 2012 Suzuki Alto MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2012 Suzuki Alto?

In 2025, 64.7% of Altos first used in 2012 passed their MOT first time, against 63.5% for all cars first used in 2012. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2012 Alto most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 44.6% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (28.3%) and brakes (27.3%). The single most common item was “Stop lamp: not working” (15.2%).

How often does a 2012 Suzuki Alto fail its MOT?

In 2025, 35.3% of first tests on Altos first used in 2012 did not pass first time: 26.1% failed, and a further 9.2% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 4,739 of 13,786 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2012 Suzuki Alto MOT advisories?

“Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (on 24.0% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (17.8%), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (16.7%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (12.1%) and “Coil spring: corroded” (10.0%).

Is a 2012 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 71.3% in 2021 to 64.7% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2012

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

2012 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2012 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2012 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2012 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2012 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics

How the 2012 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. “2012 Alto” means a Suzuki Alto whose date of first use falls in 2012 (61, 12 and 62 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 2012, 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.