Used car guide · 1997–2007

Suzuki Wagon-R+ common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Suzuki Wagon-R+, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 6,238 MOTs done during 2025), and what to check before you buy one.

6,238MOTs done in 2025, all years of this model
8,103on the UK register

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).

20072006200520042003200220012000199919981997

What usually goes wrong with a Suzuki Wagon-R+?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Suzuki Wagon-R+ 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 Wagon-R+ 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 2025.

  • Steering rack inner joints

    up to 5.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 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.

  • Suspension arm

    up to 2.6× usual

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

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 2.2× usual

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

    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.

  • Wheels

    up to 3.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003 and 2004.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Ball joint

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001 and 2002.

    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.

Suzuki Wagon-R+ 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
200762%57% +5416 (small sample)
200660%57% +3457 (small sample)
200559%58% +11,043
200457%58% -11,312
200355%59% -41,216
200251%60% -9918
200154%61% -7608
200048%63% -15268 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Suzuki Wagon-R+

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 5.8× as often on the Suzuki Wagon-R+ as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the Suzuki Wagon-R+ as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the Suzuki Wagon-R+ as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Suzuki Wagon-R+?

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 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