Van · 1996–2021 cars
Suzuki Carry reliability
The Suzuki Carry fails 44% of first MOT tests, 11% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 13,603 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Suzuki Carry before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 44%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 11% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 13,603
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Suzuki Carry ages
Each point is the share of Suzuki Carrys of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Suzuki Carry | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 44.6% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 44% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 45.9% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 44.8% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 46.9% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 44.4% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 45% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 43.8% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 48.6% | 37.1% |
By year
The best and worst Suzuki Carry years
2005 cars come out best and 2003 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 223 | 40.8% | 7% more fails | 66,911 |
| 2005 Carry | 3,348 | 43.1% | 5% more fails | 84,029 |
| 2004 Carry | 3,488 | 46.6% | 13% more fails | 82,207 |
| 2003 Carry | 2,400 | 47.2% | 15% more fails | 87,003 |
| 2002 Carry | 1,589 | 45.2% | 12% more fails | 81,808 |
| 2001 | 960 | 44.9% | 14% more fails | 81,256 |
| 2000 | 670 | 42.5% | 11% more fails | 82,292 |
| 1999 | 242 | 52.9% | 48% more fails | 81,135 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Suzuki Carry
Its weak spot is exhaust, emissions and leaks: 99% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics18.9%1% above avg
- Suspension18.8%30% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks12.6%99% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure10.9%37% above avg
- Brakes9.3%21% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors8.1%12% above avg
- Tyres6.9%16% above avg
- Seat belts and airbags2.4%6% below avg
- Steering1.4%59% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 8.67% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 2
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 5.58% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 3
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 4.84% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 4
Stop lamp not working 4.74% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 5
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 4.48% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 6
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 4.09% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 7
Lambda reading outside specified limits 3.39% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 8
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 3.01% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Suzuki Carry's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy15.39%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit14.27%
- Slight play in steering rack joints7.84%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking6.79%
- Suspension mounting area showing corrosion6.17%
- Brake disc pitted or scored5.68%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Suzuki Carry
- 1
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 2
Suspension ball joint excessively worn
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 3
Engine warning light inoperative or lit
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 4
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol99.7%
- Diesel0.2%
- LPG0.1%
Most common colours
White, Blue, Silver, Green, Black
Average engine size: 1.3 litres.
Compare
How the Suzuki Carry compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Crafter | 29.7% | 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Iveco Daily | 36.2% | about average for its age |
| LDV Maxus | 45.8% | 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Suzuki Carry | 44% | 11% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Vauxhall Corsa Van | 46.9% | 12% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Vauxhall Movano | 39.2% | 15% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan e-NV200 | 26.3% | 103% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every van ranked in the van reliability index, or all Suzuki models.
Questions
Suzuki Carry questions, answered
Is the Suzuki Carry reliable?
On MOT results, the Suzuki Carry is below average: it fails 44% of first MOT tests, 11% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 14 of 40 van models in our index.
What fails most on a Suzuki Carry MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Suzuki Carry are suspension mounting area seriously corroded (8.67% of tests), suspension ball joint excessively worn (5.58% of tests), engine warning light inoperative or lit (4.84% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 18.9% of its tests.
Which Suzuki Carry year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2005 cars do best (5% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2003 cars do worst (15% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Suzuki Carry before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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