Small car · 1997–2013 cars

Suzuki Wagon-R+ reliability

The Suzuki Wagon-R+ fails 44.6% of first MOT tests, 15% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 29,121 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Below averageReliability score 37/100#26 of 63 small cars

Checking a Suzuki Wagon-R+ before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 44.6%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 15% more; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 29,121; 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 Wagon-R+ ages

Each point is the share of Suzuki Wagon-R+s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Suzuki Wagon-R+All cars

Suzuki Wagon-R+ first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Suzuki Wagon-R+	All cars
14	40.2%	41.1%
15	34.7%	42.3%
16	38.1%	42.9%
17	41.9%	43.4%
18	40.8%	43.5%
19	45%	43.4%
20	46.4%	42.8%
21	49.2%	41.4%
22	50.3%	40.6%
23	49.8%	38.9%
24	55.6%	37.1%

By year

The best and worst Suzuki Wagon-R+ years

2006 cars come out best and 2000 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Suzuki Wagon-R+ MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2007 Wagon-R+	1,745	40.3%	9% more fails	64,383
2006 Wagon-R+	1,940	37.8%	1% fewer fails	68,904
2005 Wagon-R+	4,435	40.4%	4% more fails	69,993
2004 Wagon-R+	5,738	42.3%	8% more fails	71,776
2003 Wagon-R+	5,905	45.6%	15% more fails	74,878
2002 Wagon-R+	4,482	50%	29% more fails	72,889
2001 Wagon-R+	3,048	47.6%	24% more fails	73,994
2000 Wagon-R+	1,469	51.7%	37% more fails	75,755

Common problems

What fails most on a Suzuki Wagon-R+

Its weak spot is steering: 77% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics16.4%8% below avg
Suspension15.4%13% above avg
Brakes14.8%33% above avg
Body, chassis and structure9.5%26% above avg
Tyres9.2%61% above avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors8.1%13% above avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks6.5%9% above avg
Steering5.3%77% above avg
Seat belts and airbags2.3%6% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 4.9% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 4.58% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 4.18% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 4.12% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
5
CV joint boot split or insecure 3.93% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
6
Stop lamp not working 3.25% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
7
Track rod end ball joint excessively worn 3.1% of tests
Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.
8
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 2.84% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.

Most common advisories

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

Brake pipes corroded and greasy24.33%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking15%
Tyre worn close to legal limit12.9%
Slight play in steering rack joints10.84%
Coil spring showing some corrosion10.44%
Engine oil leak, not excessive9.27%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Suzuki Wagon-R+

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
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Suspension ball joint excessively worn
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
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

Petrol99.9%
Diesel0%
LPG0%

Most common colours

Silver, Blue, Green, Red, Yellow

Average engine size: 1.3 litres.

Compare

How the Suzuki Wagon-R+ compares with its rivals

Suzuki Wagon-R+ against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Audi A2	43.5%	about average for its age
Fiat Grande Punto	45%	15% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Suzuki Wagon-R+	44.6%	15% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Vauxhall Tigra	48.1%	23% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën C3 Picasso	27.8%	49% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Chevrolet Aveo	50.6%	51% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Renault Zoe	26.5%	76% more MOT fails than the average car its age

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

Questions

Suzuki Wagon-R+ questions, answered

Is the Suzuki Wagon-R+ reliable?

On MOT results, the Suzuki Wagon-R+ is below average: it fails 44.6% of first MOT tests, 15% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 26 of 63 small car models in our index.

What fails most on a Suzuki Wagon-R+ MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Suzuki Wagon-R+ are position lamp not working (4.9% of tests), rigid brake pipe excessively corroded (4.58% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (4.18% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 16.4% of its tests.

Which Suzuki Wagon-R+ year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2006 cars do best (about average for its age) and 2000 cars do worst (37% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How do I check a Suzuki Wagon-R+ 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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