Suzuki Alto 2013: reliability & common MOT faults
Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2013 Suzuki Alto include Wheel bearings (rear) (~8.6× peers) and Electrical equipment — Horn (~7.3× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (3,696 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.
Common faults
These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).
Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.
Based on 3,696 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.
Wheel bearings (rear)
This failure pattern appears about 8.6× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 133 failed first-attempt tests; 3.6% of failed tests for this model year.
Rear · 133 failures · ×8.6 vs similar cars · 3.6% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Electrical equipment — Horn
This failure pattern appears about 7.3× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 240 failed first-attempt tests; 6.5% of failed tests for this model year.
Any · 240 failures · ×7.3 vs similar cars · 6.5% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Rigid brake pipes (front)
This failure pattern appears about 6.7× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 182 failed first-attempt tests; 4.9% of failed tests for this model year.
Front · 182 failures · ×6.7 vs similar cars · 4.9% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
| # | Fault pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Wheel bearings (rear)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
|
Rear | 133 | ×8.6 | 3.6% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 2 |
Electrical equipment — Horn
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Electrical equipment > Horn
|
Any | 240 | ×7.3 | 6.5% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 3 |
Rigid brake pipes (front)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
|
Front | 182 | ×6.7 | 4.9% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 4 |
Rigid brake pipes (rear)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
|
Rear | 198 | ×4.6 | 5.4% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 5 |
Wheel bearings (front)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
|
Front | 89 | ×3.4 | 2.4% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 6 |
Stop lamp (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Stop lamp
|
Rear | 393 | ×2.7 | 10.6% | Possible elevated fault |
| 7 |
Stop lamp
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Stop lamp
|
Any | 386 | ×2.3 | 10.4% | Possible elevated fault |
| 8 |
Visibility — Wipers (front)
Visibility > Wipers
|
Front | 252 | ×2.1 | 6.8% | Possible elevated fault |
| 9 |
Visibility — Wipers
Visibility > Wipers
|
Any | 233 | ×2.1 | 6.3% | Possible elevated fault |
| 10 |
Position lamp (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Position lamps > Position lamp
|
Front | 533 | ×2.0 | 14.4% | Possible elevated fault |
Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).
Advisories
Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.
| # | Advisory pattern | Location | Notes | vs similar cars | Share | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Coil spring
Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring
|
Any | 184 | ×10.1 | 5.0% | Elevated vs peers |
| 2 |
Coil spring (front)
Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring
|
Front | 454 | ×7.6 | 12.3% | Elevated vs peers |
| 3 |
Headlamp (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Headlamps > Headlamp
|
Front | 76 | ×5.4 | 2.1% | Elevated vs peers |
| 4 |
Rigid brake pipes (front)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
|
Front | 458 | ×5.4 | 12.4% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 5 |
Headlamp
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Headlamps > Headlamp
|
Any | 49 | ×5.3 | 1.3% | Elevated vs peers |
| 6 |
Wheel bearings (rear)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
|
Rear | 54 | ×4.9 | 1.5% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 7 |
Rigid brake pipes
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
|
Any | 194 | ×4.3 | 5.2% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 8 |
Macpherson strut (front)
Suspension > Macpherson strut > Macpherson strut
|
Front | 95 | ×3.9 | 2.6% | Elevated vs peers |
FAQs
About this data
Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.
PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).
Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.
Limitations.
- MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
- Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.
Display rules config: 1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.