2013 Suzuki Alto MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 66.8% of Suzuki Altos first used in 2013 passed their MOT first time, against 65.8% for all cars first used in 2013. Across 35,063 Alto first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen).

This page analyses first MOT tests for Suzuki Altos first used in 2013 (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
66.8%
of 11,375 first tests; all cars first used in 2013: 65.8%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
35,063
first tests, 2023–2025; 11,375 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
26.1%
of 11,375 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
58,500
middle half: 40,500–78,500 miles; all cars first used in 2013: 86,500

How the 2013 Suzuki Alto MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Altos first used in 2013 against all cars first used in 2013 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Alto figure was 1.0 points higher.

2013 AltoAll cars first used in 2013
60%70%80%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2013, test year 2021: 72.1%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2022: 70.3%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2023: 68.3%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2024: 66.8%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2025: 65.8%2013 Alto, test year 2021: 74.3%2013 Alto, test year 2022: 71.9%2013 Alto, test year 2023: 70.2%2013 Alto, test year 2024: 67.5%2013 Alto, test year 2025: 66.8%66.8%65.8%
View this chart as a table
Test year2013 AltoAll cars first used 2013Alto first tests
202174.3%72.1%12,170
202271.9%70.3%12,097
202370.2%68.3%11,946
202467.5%66.8%11,742
202566.8%65.8%11,375

Common 2013 Suzuki Alto MOT failures

Share of the 11,153 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 equipment49.0%
Suspension23.6%
Visibility22.7%
Brakes22.1%
Tyres19.7%
Body, chassis, structure9.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks5.8%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems2.3%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Stop lamp: not working20.4%2,272
Position lamp: not working14.7%1,639
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively13.5%1,511
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded9.3%1,034
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm8.7%967

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

What to check on a 2013 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. Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.

Common 2013 Suzuki Alto MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2013 Altos, as a share of all 35,063 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge16.6%5,806
Coil spring: corroded16.1%5,662
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material15.6%5,477
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement14.3%5,014
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing12.2%4,283

Questions about the 2013 Suzuki Alto MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2013 Suzuki Alto?

In 2025, 66.8% of Altos first used in 2013 passed their MOT first time, against 65.8% for all cars first used in 2013. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2013 Alto most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 49.0% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (23.6%) and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (22.7%). The single most common item was “Stop lamp: not working” (20.4%).

How often does a 2013 Suzuki Alto fail its MOT?

In 2025, 33.2% of first tests on Altos first used in 2013 did not pass first time: 23.9% failed, and a further 9.3% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 11,153 of 35,063 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2013 Suzuki Alto MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 16.6% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Coil spring: corroded” (16.1%), “Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (15.6%), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (14.3%) and “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (12.2%).

Is a 2013 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 74.3% in 2021 to 66.8% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2013

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

2013 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2013 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2013 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2013 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2013 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics

How the 2013 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. “2013 Alto” means a Suzuki Alto whose date of first use falls in 2013 (62, 13 and 63 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 2013, 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.