Used car guide · 1999–2006

Suzuki Carry common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Suzuki Carry, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 10,613 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

10,613MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model

Pick the year

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).

20062005200420032002200120001999

What usually goes wrong with a Suzuki Carry?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Suzuki Carry 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 Carry MOT failures to check

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

  • Steering rack inner joints

    up to 5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Body structure rust or damage

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath and along the sills for flaky rust or fresh underseal hiding it.

  • Chassis rust or damage

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Ball joint

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000, 2002 and 2003.

    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.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)

    up to 4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000 and 2001.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

Suzuki Carry MOT pass rate by year

Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200659%56% +3182 (small sample)
200556%57% -12,845
200454%57% -32,872
200354%57% -31,973
200253%58% -51,295
200156%60% -4771
200056%61% -5512
199948%63% -15163 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Suzuki Carry

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

  1. Any recent work on the steering rack inner joints? (Flagged at MOT 5× as often on the Suzuki Carry as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the Suzuki Carry as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the body structure rust or damage? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the Suzuki Carry as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Suzuki Carry?

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