Suzuki Celerio common problems and MOT failures
What goes wrong on a used Suzuki Celerio, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 81,332 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.
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).
What usually goes wrong with a Suzuki Celerio?
Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.
- Cars registered in 2015 · Early cars
Brake pedal recall (early cars)
Early cars were recalled to adjust a faulty brake pedal after failures in braking tests.
At the viewing: Ask a Suzuki dealer to confirm the recall was done.
Source: What Car?: used Suzuki Celerio (2015-2019) reliability
- Cars registered in 2018 · Built early 2018
Side airbag bracket (built Jan to Feb 2018)
A front seat bracket might not be secured, stopping the side airbag deploying properly.
At the viewing: Ask a Suzuki dealer whether the recall applies.
Source: What Car?: used Suzuki Celerio (2015-2019) reliability
Common Suzuki Celerio MOT failures to check
Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.
Wipers
up to 2.7× usualStands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Rough price £15–£60 our estimateAt the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.
Rigid brake pipes
up to 5.2× usualStands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Rough price £100–£400 our estimateAt 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 performance
up to 2.1× usualStands out on cars registered in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Rough price £100–£350 our estimateAt the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.
Suzuki Celerio MOT pass rate by year
Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2016 Suzuki Celerio did best (84% passed first time, 7 points above all 2016 cars) and the 2019 did worst (89%, 4 points above all 2019 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.
Questions to ask the seller before buying a Suzuki Celerio
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Has the brake pedal recall been done?
- Has the seat bracket recall been done?
- Any recent work on the wipers? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the Suzuki Celerio as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 5.2× as often on the Suzuki Celerio as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the Suzuki Celerio as on other cars the same age.)
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a Suzuki Celerio?
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