Suzuki Baleno years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

6,600 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2016–2019 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Suzuki Baleno years with MOT pass rates below the average for vehicles first used in the same year: 2016–2018. None is clearly above it. The other year can't be told apart from average.

Below the average for their first-use year2016–2018
Above the average for their first-use yearNone
Can't be told apart from average2019

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

73.7%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 72.6% to 74.7%.

Suzuki Baleno, all years73.7%
Same-age average, all vehicles78.7%

In 2025, 73.7% of the 6,600 initial MOT tests on Suzuki Baleno cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 78.7%. That is 5.0 points below the same-age average.

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Its own MOT history, free.

Suzuki Baleno MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2019age 6	1,06735,200	81.7%±2.5	−1.8 ptsall: 83.5%
2018age 7	1,44843,500	72.5%±2.4	−8.4 ptsall: 80.9%
2017age 8	2,20252,000	71.8%±2.0	−6.4 ptsall: 78.2%
2016age 9	1,88355,600	72.2%±2.1	−2.7 ptsall: 74.9%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Does mileage matter?

Suzuki Baleno first-time pass rates by the mileage at the initial test, all years together, against all vehicles of the same age and mileage.

82.8% of Suzuki Baleno tests under 30,000 miles passed first time, against 67.0% at 60,000 to 89,999 miles. For all vehicles of the same age and mileage, the figures are 88.0% and 75.3%.

Miles at the test	Tests	Passed first time	Against all vehicles, same age and mileage
Under 30,000	1,301	82.8%±2.2	−5.2 ptsall: 88.0%
30,000–59,999	3,199	75.1%±1.6	−5.8 ptsall: 80.9%
60,000–89,999	1,625	67.0%±2.4	−8.3 ptsall: 75.3%

Against all vehicles of the same age and mileage, Baleno tests were below average in every band shown.

Mileage is only one factor. How a car has been driven and looked after matters too. These figures show an association across all Suzuki Baleno tests in 2025, not what mileage does to a particular car.

Mileage is the odometer reading at the initial test. Each band is compared with all vehicles first used in the same year with a reading in the same band, weighted by this model's own tests in each year. Bands need at least 1,000 tests. Not shown, with fewer than 1,000 tests: 90,000–119,999 and 120,000 or more. Every test had a usable odometer reading. How we count

Common Baleno problems at the MOT

Share of the 1,738 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Suspension43.8%
Lights and electrics26.4%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors20.6%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

What to check when viewing a Baleno

Based on the areas where Suzuki Baleno MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Suspension
In 43.8% of failed Baleno tests
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Lights and electrics
In 26.4% of failed Baleno tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors
In 20.6% of failed Baleno tests
- Look for chips and cracks in the windscreen, especially in front of the driver.
- Run the wipers and washers. The blades should clear the screen without smearing.
- Check both door mirrors and the rear-view mirror are intact and adjust.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a Baleno's MOT history

Suzuki Baleno questions

Which Suzuki Baleno years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, these model years have below-average MOT pass rates: 2016–2018. None is clearly above average. The rest can't be told apart from average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Suzuki Baleno reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 73.7% of initial MOT tests on Suzuki Baleno cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 78.7%. That is 5.0 points below average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Suzuki Baleno problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are suspension (in 43.8% of failed tests), lights and electrics (in 26.4% of failed tests) and windscreen, wipers, mirrors (in 20.6% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 7-year-old Suzuki Baleno?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Suzuki Baleno cars first used in 2018, about 7 years old, had a median of 43,500 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific Baleno's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Suzuki Baleno

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Suzuki models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 10 Suzuki models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Suzuki Baleno cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count