6,165 tests in 2025
Suzuki Baleno reliability and MOT pass rate
77.2% passed first time. The 22.8% fail rate is 0.2 points worse than the all-car average, on a median example 8 years old with 48,552 miles.
Pass rate
77.2%
22.6% of all cars failed; 22.8% of these did.
Fixed on the day
3.8%
Passed after a defect was put right during the visit.
Median at test
48,552 mi
8 years old.
Fail rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 1 | — |
| 6-9 years | 6,086 | 22.6% |
| 10-13 years | 1 | — |
| 14+ years | 77 | — |
What the Baleno fails on
Share of failed tests with at least one fail item in each DVSA inspection section. A test can fail in several sections at once.
- Suspension5 dangerous51.5%
- Brakes111 dangerous26.7%
- Tyres321 dangerous24.2%
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment21.9%
- Visibility16.7%
- Body, chassis, structure7 dangerous2.7%
- Noise, emissions and leaks2.5%
- Steering1 dangerous2.2%
Is the Baleno getting worse?
The fail rate rose 7.5 points to 22.8% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 3 years, which is about what ageing alone predicts (6.6 points). Read it as the fleet getting older rather than the model changing.
| Year | Tests | Median age | Fail rate | All cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6,893 | 5 | 15.3% | 22.5% | |
| 2023 | 6,845 | 6 | 18.4% | 22.8% | |
| 2024 | 5,634 | 7 | 21.3% | 23.2% | |
| 2025 | 6,165 | 8 | 22.8% | 22.6% |
Fail rate is first attempts at class 4 tests. Median age is the age of a typical Baleno at its test that year, and it is the number to watch: across the whole fleet each extra year of age adds roughly 1.9 points to the fail rate, so a model whose age and fail rate rise together is simply getting older.
The exact defects that fail it
Every failure item DVSA recorded against a Baleno in 2025, counted by how many tests each one appeared on.
- 1Ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt521 tests
- 2Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm192 tests
- 3Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded145 tests
- 4Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively119 tests
- 5Horn: not working112 tests
- 6Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn80 tests
- 7Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid76 tests
- 8Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative76 tests
What wears out first
Advisories are the tester flagging wear that is still legal. A typical Baleno collects 2.8 of them per test, and these are the ones that come up most. Treat it as the running-repairs list for the next year or two.
- 1Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened1,002 tests
- 2Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm993 tests
- 3Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded918 tests
- 4Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened500 tests
- 5Condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure481 tests
- 6Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick387 tests
- 7Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn157 tests
- 8Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt145 tests
Questions
What is the Suzuki Baleno MOT pass rate?
77.2% of the 6,165 Suzuki Baleno first-attempt MOTs in 2025 passed. The fail rate of 22.8% compares with 22.6% across all cars. A further 3.8% passed after a defect was fixed during the test visit.
What does a Suzuki Baleno usually fail on?
The single most common failure is "Ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt", recorded on 521 failed tests, followed by "Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm" and "Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded". By section, suspension appears in 51.5% of failures, brakes appears in 26.7% of failures, tyres appears in 24.2% of failures.
Does age change the odds?
Sharply. At 3 to 5 years old the fail rate was 0%; at 6-9 years it was 22.6%. The median Suzuki Baleno tested in 2025 was 8 years old with 48,552 miles.
Is the Suzuki Baleno getting less reliable?
The fail rate rose 7.5 points to 22.8% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 3 years, which is about what ageing alone predicts (6.6 points). Read it as the fleet getting older rather than the model changing.
First-attempt class 4 tests, 2025, from DVSA’s anonymised MOT data (OGL v3, retrieved 2026-09-12). DVSA records newer cars trim by trim; this page adds every Baleno trim together. Year-on-year figures come from the same DVSA extracts for 2026 and earlier years. Full method on the pass rates hub.
DVSA has published 5 safety recalls naming the Suzuki Baleno: Suzuki Baleno recalls.
Other Suzuki models
Checking a particular Baleno?
The odds above are the model. The car in front of you has its own record: every test, every advisory, the mileage at each one.
Due a test? Find an approved MOT station near you.