Used car guide

2016 Suzuki SX4: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Suzuki SX4s, from 3,368 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,368MOT tests in 2025
80%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
7,000typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for braking performance

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Suzuki SX4s than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Braking performance2.5× usual
    Suzuki SX4
    6.3% All 2016 cars
    2.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.8% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Rigid brake pipes3× usual
    Suzuki SX4
    5.7% All 2016 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, 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.

  • Pedal10× usual
    Suzuki SX4
    2% All 2016 cars
    0.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

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

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1.7% here, against 6.1% of all 2016 cars. Coil springs: 1.4% here, against 4.1% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Suzuki SX4 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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
    28% 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
    11% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    11% 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
    5% 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
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

Looking at a Suzuki SX4?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20222,705Tyres 16%
20211,725Tyres 20%
2020894Tyres 25%
20192,025Tyres 25%
20182,718Tyres 29%
20173,207Tyres 28%
20153,712Tyres 31%
20146,336Brakes 34%
20133,280Suspension 39%
20121,898Suspension 51%
20112,124Suspension 53%
20101,906Suspension 55%
20091,717Suspension 57%
20082,128Suspension 58%
20071,995Suspension 57%
2006750Suspension 55%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 Suzuki SX4s registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score