Suzuki Wagon-R+ Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Suzuki Wagon-R+ 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 13,710 MOT tests across 10 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: small family car | Fuel: Petrol, LPG
70%
Suzuki Wagon-R+ pass rate
82%
Suzuki average
82%
All-model average
The Suzuki Wagon-R+ has an average MOT pass rate of 70%, which is 12 points below the Suzuki average and 12 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Suzuki Wagon-R+s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 6 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Suzuki Wagon-R+ Fails Its MOT On
Of the 2,832 MOT tests on the Suzuki Wagon-R+ 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
37%Cars and vans the same age: 38% · Typical repair £150-£600
Lights and electrics
37%Cars and vans the same age: 49% (the Wagon-R+ fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
29%Cars and vans the same age: 30% · Typical repair £80-£450
Body, chassis and structure
21%Cars and vans the same age: 22% · Typical repair £200-£1200
Tyres
20%Cars and vans the same age: 14% (the Wagon-R+ fails on this more often) · Typical repair £50-£300
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Position lamp: not working (13% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (11% of failed tests, suspension)
- 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 Wagon-R+ 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 Wagon-R+ 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
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
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 Wagon-R+ 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.
Suzuki Wagon-R+ Running Costs
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Suzuki Wagon-R+ FAQ
What are the most common Suzuki Wagon-R+ problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Suzuki Wagon-R+ that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (37% of the 2,832 failed tests), lights and electrics (37%) and brakes (29%). The single most common fault was "Position lamp: not working" (13%). Across 13,710 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 70% ended in a pass.
Is the Suzuki Wagon-R+ reliable?
The Suzuki Wagon-R+ has an average MOT pass rate of 70%, from 13,710 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 2 points of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Suzuki Wagon-R+ years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2002 (67% of 2,047 tests passed, against 73% for all 2002 cars) and the 2001 (70% of 1,396 tests passed, against 73% for all 2001 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. 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 Wagon-R+ faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Suzuki Wagon-R+ 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