Used car guide

2014 Suzuki Alto: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2014 Suzuki Altos, from 12,508 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

12,508MOT tests in 2025
68%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%)
4,700typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2014 Suzuki Altos than on all cars registered in 2014.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.3× usual
    Suzuki Alto
    18.9% All 2014 cars
    8.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.7% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Rigid brake pipes3.6× usual
    Suzuki Alto
    13% All 2014 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 0.5% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Brake lights3.1× usual
    Suzuki Alto
    8.9% All 2014 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.5%, against 2.2% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.6× usual
    Suzuki Alto
    7.1% All 2014 cars
    2.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 1.5% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Coil springs1.6× usual
    Suzuki Alto
    11.2% All 2014 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 3.4% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

Better than most

Track rod ends: 0.4% here, against 4.5% of all 2014 cars. Shock absorbers: 2.5% here, against 5.7% of all 2014 cars.

By area

The share of 2014 Suzuki Alto MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    34% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    31% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    27% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    25% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    7% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Looking at a Suzuki Alto?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20151,792Suspension 32%
201311,388Suspension 40%
20124,433Suspension 42%
20114,250Brakes 43%
20104,114Suspension 44%
20094,728Suspension 46%
2006510Brakes 56%
2005792Brakes 54%
2004645Suspension 56%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2014 Suzuki Altos registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score