Used car guide · 1995–2019

Suzuki Baleno common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Suzuki Baleno, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 19,681 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1998 Suzuki Baleno

Too few Suzuki Baleno cars first registered in 1998 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Suzuki Baleno as a whole.

66on the UK register at the end of 2025
Petrolfuel type
What to check on a 1998 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20192018201720162001200019991998199719961995

What usually goes wrong with a Suzuki Baleno?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Suzuki Baleno in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Suzuki Baleno MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 43.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    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.

  • Horn

    up to 30× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    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.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 19.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    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 springs

    up to 7.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    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.

  • Wipers

    up to 1.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

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

Suzuki Baleno MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2019 Suzuki Baleno did best (84% passed first time, 1 point below all 2019 cars) and the 2018 did worst (75%, 8 points below all 2018 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201984%85% -13,136
201875%83% -84,297
201773%80% -76,599
201674%77% -35,649

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Suzuki Baleno

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 43.8× as often on the Suzuki Baleno as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 24× as often on the Suzuki Baleno as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 9.4× as often on the Suzuki Baleno as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Suzuki Baleno?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score