Used car guide

2017 Suzuki SX4: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2017 Suzuki SX4s, from 3,207 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,207MOT tests in 2025
83%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)
6,500typical miles a year
3.2×the usual rate for exhaust system

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2017 Suzuki SX4s than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Exhaust system3.2× usual
    Suzuki SX4
    4.8% All 2017 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.4% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Pedal11× usual
    Suzuki SX4
    2.2% All 2017 cars
    0.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.1% of all 2017 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.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.6× usual
    Suzuki SX4
    3.4% All 2017 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.2% of all 2017 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.

  • Braking performance2× usual
    Suzuki SX4
    3.6% All 2017 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.6% of all 2017 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.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1% here, against 4.8% of all 2017 cars.

By area

The share of 2017 Suzuki SX4 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    28% 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
    24% 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
    7% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    7% 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.

  • 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    5% 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.

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%
20163,368Tyres 29%
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 2017 Suzuki SX4s registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score