Small SUV · 1998–2021 cars

Suzuki Jimny reliability

The Suzuki Jimny fails 30.9% of first MOT tests, 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 80,527 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 54/100#23 of 40 small suvs

Checking a Suzuki Jimny before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 30.9%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 4% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 80,527; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 4,900; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Suzuki Jimny ages

Each point is the share of Suzuki Jimnys of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Suzuki JimnyAll cars

Suzuki Jimny first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Suzuki Jimny	All cars
3	7.3%	12.3%
4	9.1%	14.1%
5	15.9%	16.4%
6	18.2%	19.1%
7	20.2%	22.1%
8	22.1%	25.5%
9	22.4%	28.8%
10	25.2%	31.8%
11	25.7%	34.6%
12	28.7%	37.3%
13	30.8%	39.5%
14	30.9%	41.1%
15	36.7%	42.3%
16	37.8%	42.9%
17	37.8%	43.4%
18	39%	43.5%
19	39.1%	43.4%
20	39.4%	42.8%
21	38.5%	41.4%
22	39.8%	40.6%
23	37.1%	38.9%
24	40%	37.1%
25	40.5%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst Suzuki Jimny years

2019 cars come out best and 2018 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Suzuki Jimny MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2020 Jimny	1,552	8.3%	21% fewer fails	19,683
2019 Jimny	3,365	6.5%	43% fewer fails	21,240
2018 Jimny	1,636	15.3%	27% more fails	21,002
2017 Jimny	3,222	16.7%	22% more fails	24,774
2016 Jimny	3,480	19.1%	19% more fails	29,625
2015 Jimny	3,298	22.4%	19% more fails	35,016
2014 Jimny	2,859	21.1%	0% fewer fails	39,150
2013 Jimny	3,084	22.5%	9% fewer fails	46,093
2012 Jimny	2,959	25.5%	6% fewer fails	51,354
2011 Jimny	2,301	27.9%	6% fewer fails	54,136
2010 Jimny	2,234	30.8%	6% fewer fails	61,033
2009 Jimny	2,860	29.4%	17% fewer fails	64,200
2008 Jimny	4,121	32.1%	15% fewer fails	70,768
2007 Jimny	5,945	36.6%	7% fewer fails	75,777
2006 Jimny	5,812	39.6%	2% fewer fails	79,169
2005 Jimny	6,244	39.3%	4% fewer fails	80,586
2004 Jimny	7,301	39.4%	5% fewer fails	82,854
2003 Jimny	6,294	38.1%	8% fewer fails	87,107
2002 Jimny	4,883	38.8%	6% fewer fails	88,899
2001 Jimny	3,177	39.7%	0% fewer fails	86,650
2000 Jimny	2,263	38.7%	0% fewer fails	87,405
1999 Jimny	1,233	39.8%	7% more fails	87,389
1998	256	39.5%	10% more fails	88,436

Common problems

What fails most on a Suzuki Jimny

Its weak spot is seat belts and airbags: 101% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Suspension10.7%3% below avg
Brakes10.4%21% above avg
Lights and electrics9.6%32% below avg
Body, chassis and structure8.9%66% above avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks6.2%42% above avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.2%10% below avg
Seat belts and airbags3.3%101% above avg
Tyres1.9%65% below avg
Steering1.2%48% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 2.97% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.83% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
3
Coil spring fractured or broken 2.5% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
4
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 2.5% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
5
Seat belt anchor area weakened 2.34% of tests
Corrosion near a seat belt anchor can weaken the body and make the belt fail, so expert repair is needed.
6
Service brakes uneven across an axle 2.11% of tests
One wheel is braking much less than its pair, so the car may pull to one side and stop poorly.
7
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 2.06% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
8
Chassis corroded near body mounting 2.06% of tests
Corrosion at a body mounting can weaken the chassis where it attaches, so an expert inspection is needed.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Suzuki Jimny's MOT certificate most often.

Brake pipes corroded and greasy14.09%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking8.3%
Brake disc pitted or scored5.71%
Tyre worn close to legal limit5.21%
Fuel pipes starting to corrode5.18%
Coil spring showing some corrosion4.76%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Suzuki Jimny

1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
3
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
4
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
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 typical Suzuki Jimny covers about 4,900 miles a year. A big gap or 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

Petrol99.9%
Diesel0.1%
LPG0%
Electric0%

Most common colours

Black, Blue, Grey, Red, Silver

Average engine size: 1.3 litres.

Compare

How the Suzuki Jimny compares with its rivals

Suzuki Jimny against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Mazda CX-3	13.2%	17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mitsubishi ASX	22.1%	12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Hyundai Kona	11.7%	10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Suzuki Jimny	30.9%	4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën C3 Aircross	14%	8% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Jeep Renegade	22.2%	12% more MOT fails than the average car its age
MG ZS	18.3%	25% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every small suv ranked in the small suv reliability index, or all Suzuki models.

Questions

Suzuki Jimny questions, answered

Is the Suzuki Jimny reliable?

On MOT results, the Suzuki Jimny is about average: it fails 30.9% of first MOT tests, 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 23 of 40 small suv models in our index.

What fails most on a Suzuki Jimny MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Suzuki Jimny are position lamp not working (2.97% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (2.83% of tests), coil spring fractured or broken (2.5% of tests). By area, suspension fails 10.7% of its tests.

Which Suzuki Jimny year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2019 cars do best (43% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2018 cars do worst (27% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Suzuki Jimny do a year?

A typical Suzuki Jimny covers about 4,900 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Suzuki Jimny 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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