Used car guide

2012 Suzuki Kizashi: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Suzuki Kizashis, from 155 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 155 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

155MOT tests in 2025
66%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
5,800typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for coil springs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Suzuki Kizashis than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Coil springs2.6× usual
    Suzuki Kizashi
    25.2% All 2012 cars
    9.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 4% of all 2012 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.

By area

The share of 2012 Suzuki Kizashi MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    43% 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
    35% 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
    34% 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
    21% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    7% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a Suzuki Kizashi?

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Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Suzuki Kizashis registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score