Suzuki Jimny Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Suzuki Jimny fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 42,779 MOT tests across 24 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: small family car | Fuel: Petrol
78%
Suzuki Jimny pass rate
82%
Suzuki average
82%
All-model average
The Suzuki Jimny has an average MOT pass rate of 78%, which is 4 points below the Suzuki average and 4 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Suzuki Jimnys pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 13 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Suzuki Jimny Fails Its MOT On
Of the 7,077 MOT tests on the Suzuki Jimny that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Suspension
35%Cars and vans the same age: 37% · Typical repair £150-£600
Lights and electrics
33%Cars and vans the same age: 45% (the Jimny fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
33%Cars and vans the same age: 27% · Typical repair £80-£450
Body, chassis and structure
29%Cars and vans the same age: 18% (the Jimny fails on this more often) · Typical repair £200-£1200
Exhaust, emissions and leaks
20%Cars and vans the same age: 14% (the Jimny fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£800
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Chassis badly corroded within 30cm of a body mounting (13% of failed tests, body, chassis and structure)
- Position lamp: not working (12% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (9.6% of failed tests, windscreen, wipers and mirrors)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Suzuki Jimny Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Jimny year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
- 2000: 71% passed, against 74% for all 2000 cars (3 points lower, 1,211 tests)
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Suzuki Jimny Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Petrol | 1.5L | 93% | 2% | - |
| 2020 | Petrol | 1.5L | 95% | 5% | 92% (+3) |
| 2019 | Petrol | 0.7L | 95% | 5% | 91% (+4) |
| 2018 | Petrol | 1.3L | 86% | 14% | - |
| 2017 | Petrol | 1.3L | 87% | 13% | 87% (0) |
| 2016 | Petrol | 1.3L | 87% | 13% | 86% (+1) |
| 2015 | Petrol | 1.3L | 83% | 17% | 84% (-1) |
| 2014 | Petrol | 1.3L | 84% | 15% | 82% (+2) |
| 2013 | Petrol | 1.3L | 83% | 17% | 80% (+3) |
| 2012 | Petrol | 1.3L | 83% | 17% | 79% (+4) |
| 2011 | Petrol | 1.3L | 79% | 20% | 77% (+2) |
| 2010 | Petrol | 1.3L | 79% | 21% | 75% (+4) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 1.3L | 80% | 20% | 75% (+5) |
| 2008 | Petrol | 1.3L | 76% | 22% | 74% (+2) |
| 2007 | Petrol | 1.3L | 75% | 24% | 73% (+2) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 1.3L | 73% | 26% | 73% (0) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 1.3L | 73% | 26% | 73% (0) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 1.3L | 70% | 29% | 72% (-2) |
| 2003 | Petrol | 1.3L | 74% | 25% | 72% (+2) |
| 2002 | Petrol | 1.3L | 73% | 26% | 73% (0) |
| 2001 | Petrol | 1.3L | 72% | 27% | 73% (-1) |
| 2000 | Petrol | 1.3L | 71% | 27% | 74% (-3) |
| 1999 | Petrol | 1.3L | 67% | 31% | - |
| 1998 | Petrol | 1.3L | 72% | 26% | - |
Suzuki Jimny Running Costs
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Suzuki Jimny FAQ
What are the most common Suzuki Jimny problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Suzuki Jimny that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (35% of the 7,077 failed tests), lights and electrics (33%) and brakes (33%). The single most common fault was "Chassis badly corroded within 30cm of a body mounting" (13%). Across 42,779 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 78% ended in a pass.
Is the Suzuki Jimny reliable?
The Suzuki Jimny has an average MOT pass rate of 78%, from 42,779 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 1 point of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Suzuki Jimny years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2000 (71% of 1,211 tests passed, against 74% for all 2000 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. The years that passed most often for their age were the 2009 (80% of 1,485 tests passed, against 75% for all 2009 cars), the 2019 (95% of 2,046 tests passed, against 91% for all 2019 cars) and the 2012 (83% of 1,695 tests passed, against 79% for all 2012 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Suzuki Jimny faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Suzuki Jimny typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Suzuki Models
Common problems pages for other Suzuki models