2008 Suzuki Jimny MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 67.3% of Suzuki Jimny cars first used in 2008 passed their MOT first time, against 57.2% for all cars first used in 2008. Across 3,522 Jimny first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were brakes, body, chassis and structure and suspension.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Suzuki Jimny cars first used in 2008 (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
67.3%
of 1,125 first tests; all cars first used in 2008: 57.2%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
3,522
first tests, 2023–2025; 1,125 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
29.1%
of 1,125 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
75,000
middle half: 57,000–94,500 miles; all cars first used in 2008: 105,500

How the 2008 Suzuki Jimny MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Jimny cars first used in 2008 against all cars first used in 2008 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Jimny figure was 10.1 points higher.

2008 JimnyAll cars first used in 2008
50%60%70%80%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2008, test year 2021: 58%All cars first used in 2008, test year 2022: 57.9%All cars first used in 2008, test year 2023: 57.4%All cars first used in 2008, test year 2024: 56.9%All cars first used in 2008, test year 2025: 57.2%2008 Jimny, test year 2021: 70.5%2008 Jimny, test year 2022: 69.1%2008 Jimny, test year 2023: 67.8%2008 Jimny, test year 2024: 66.2%2008 Jimny, test year 2025: 67.3%67.3%57.2%
View this chart as a table
Test year2008 JimnyAll cars first used 2008Jimny first tests
202170.5%58.0%1,299
202269.1%57.9%1,301
202367.8%57.4%1,226
202466.2%56.9%1,171
202567.3%57.2%1,125

Common 2008 Suzuki Jimny MOT failures

Share of the 1,159 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%.

Brakes38.7%
Body, chassis, structure35.0%
Suspension30.8%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment30.7%
Noise, emissions and leaks18.3%
Visibility15.5%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems7.2%
Tyres5.3%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Chassis condition: or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting16.9%196
Position lamp: not working12.3%143
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength12.0%139
Service brake imbalance: across an axle11.0%128
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded10.0%116

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

What to check on a 2008 Suzuki Jimny 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. 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.
  3. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.

Common 2008 Suzuki Jimny MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2008 Jimny cars, as a share of all 3,522 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material20.2%710
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing12.0%424
Transmission oil leaks: leak, but not excessive7.4%260
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened6.9%244
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge6.2%218

Questions about the 2008 Suzuki Jimny MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2008 Suzuki Jimny?

In 2025, 67.3% of Jimny cars first used in 2008 passed their MOT first time, against 57.2% for all cars first used in 2008. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2008 Jimny most often fail its MOT on?

Brakes (in 38.7% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), body, chassis and structure (35.0%) and suspension (30.8%). The single most common item was “Chassis condition: or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting” (16.9%).

How often does a 2008 Suzuki Jimny fail its MOT?

In 2025, 32.7% of first tests on Jimny cars first used in 2008 did not pass first time: 27.6% failed, and a further 5.1% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,159 of 3,522 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2008 Suzuki Jimny MOT advisories?

“Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (on 20.2% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (12.0%), “Transmission oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (7.4%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (6.9%) and “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (6.2%).

Is a 2008 Suzuki Jimny 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 70.5% in 2021 to 67.3% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2008

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

2008 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2008 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2008 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2008 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2008 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics

How the 2008 Suzuki Jimny 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. “2008 Jimny” means a Suzuki Jimny whose date of first use falls in 2008 (57, 08 and 58 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 2008, 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.