Used car guide

2018 Suzuki Baleno: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Suzuki Balenos, from 1,449 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,449MOT tests in 2025
73%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
6,200typical miles a year
25.5×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Suzuki Balenos than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Ball joint dust cover25.5× usual
    Suzuki Baleno
    20.4% All 2018 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11.3%, against 0.3% of all 2018 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.

  • Rigid brake pipes17.4× usual
    Suzuki Baleno
    13.9% All 2018 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 0.1% of all 2018 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.

  • Coil springs8× usual
    Suzuki Baleno
    13.6% All 2018 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 1.3% of all 2018 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.

  • Horn27× usual
    Suzuki Baleno
    2.7% All 2018 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 0.1% of all 2018 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.

  • Wipers2× usual
    Suzuki Baleno
    4.9% All 2018 cars
    2.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 1.5% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

By area

The share of 2018 Suzuki Baleno MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    35% 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
    29% 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
    25% 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
    10% 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
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • 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%
20172,206Suspension 39%
20161,886Brakes 37%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2018 Suzuki Balenos registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score