Used car guide

2016 Suzuki Baleno: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Suzuki Balenos, from 1,886 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,886MOT tests in 2025
72%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
6,200typical miles a year
11.7×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Suzuki Balenos than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Rigid brake pipes11.7× usual
    Suzuki Baleno
    22.3% All 2016 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 0.2% of all 2016 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.

  • Ball joint dust cover10× usual
    Suzuki Baleno
    17% All 2016 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.2%, against 0.6% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Coil springs4.7× usual
    Suzuki Baleno
    19.3% All 2016 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 2.5% of all 2016 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.

  • Horn25× usual
    Suzuki Baleno
    2.5% All 2016 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.1% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

  • Sub-frame3.8× usual
    Suzuki Baleno
    3.4% All 2016 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.7% here, against 6.1% of all 2016 cars. Shock absorbers: 1.3% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Suzuki Baleno MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    37% 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.

  • Suspension
    37% 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
    27% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Lights and electrics
    9% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Suzuki Baleno?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20191,065Tyres 28%
20181,449Suspension 35%
20172,206Suspension 39%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 Suzuki Balenos registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score