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Suzuki Carry Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Suzuki Carry car check

Is the Suzuki Carry reliable? We analysed 253,987 real MOT tests across 16,746 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 253,987 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
71.4%
Typical Mileage
62,322mi
Annual Mileage
4,552mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
27yrs

The Suzuki Carry is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Suzuki Carry.

Suzuki Carry Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Suzuki Carry. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Suzuki Carry MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Suzuki Carry to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

79.5%
2021
92.2%
2014
87.7%
2013
85.8%
2012
79.5%
2011
82.3%
2010
77%
2009
79%
2008
72.8%
2007
70.6%
2006
72.9%
2005
72.3%
2004
71.3%
2003
70.7%
2002
70.9%
2001
69.6%
2000
69.5%
1999
79.4%
1998
74%
1997
75%
1996

Suzuki Carry Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Suzuki Carry fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 15,614
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 7,533
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 7,124
Stop lamp not working 5,596
Brake pipe excessively corroded 5,014
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 4,641
Exhaust system not adequately supported 4,557
suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint 4,093
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 3,320
brake binding 2,737

Suzuki Carry Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Suzuki Carry owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,386 mi/yr
Typical
4,552 mi/yr
Average
5,990 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,651 mi/yr

Suzuki Carry MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Suzuki Carry year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2021 83 79.5% 16,162 28,111 49,688
2014 64 92.2% 11,127 23,433 42,930
2013 122 87.7% 25,076 46,658 73,812
2012 106 85.8% 34,602 50,824 76,282
2011 88 79.5% 39,053 57,798 84,692
2010 147 82.3% 29,924 45,736 87,864
2009 135 77.0% 26,390 47,216 73,032
2008 105 79.0% 27,859 56,219 71,538
2007 92 72.8% 33,901 57,426 68,292
2006 2,266 70.6% 37,020 58,073 85,187
2005 43,005 72.9% 35,920 58,512 85,720
2004 53,757 72.3% 37,851 59,577 84,982
2003 49,678 71.3% 38,019 60,109 86,020
2002 41,739 70.7% 40,907 61,437 85,663
2001 27,693 70.9% 46,630 66,572 90,341
2000 23,627 69.6% 51,050 71,052 95,058
1999 9,895 69.5% 52,175 71,472 94,930
1998 102 79.4% 26,381 55,076 84,337
1997 150 74.0% 26,926 39,524 66,669
1996 108 75.0% 22,115 33,796 59,049

How Long Does a Suzuki Carry Last?

Based on 16,746 Suzuki Carry vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.3 years
Median
14.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
27 years

Suzuki Carry Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Suzuki Carry MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
62,322 mi
75th Percentile
87,471 mi
95th Percentile
131,797 mi
Max Recorded
989,555 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Suzuki Carry

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2014

92.2% MOT pass rate from 64 tests

Year to avoid
1999

69.5% MOT pass rate from 9,895 tests

The best year to buy a used Suzuki Carry is 2014, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.2% across 64 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 69.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Suzuki Carry Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Suzuki Carry THIS CAR 71.4% 253,987 62,322 mi 27 yrs
Suzuki Swift 76.1% 2,247,517 51,601 mi 31 yrs
Suzuki Alto 74% 1,154,186 41,167 mi 28 yrs
Suzuki Grand Vitara 76.2% 1,025,634 67,542 mi 28 yrs
Fiat Ulysse 65.8% 121,138 94,580 mi 31 yrs

Compared to the Suzuki Swift (76.1% pass rate) and the Suzuki Alto (74.0% pass rate), the Suzuki Carry trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Suzuki Carry?

The Suzuki Carry has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.4% across 253,987 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Suzuki Carry are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (15,614 recorded failures), suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (7,533), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (7,124). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Suzuki Carry owner drives around 4,552 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Suzuki Carry models stay on UK roads for around 27 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Suzuki Carry — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Suzuki Carry reliable?
Based on 253,987 MOT tests, the Suzuki Carry has a 71.4% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Suzuki Carry?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Suzuki Carry do per year?
The typical Suzuki Carry does around 4,552 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Suzuki Carry last?
Most Suzuki Carry models stay on UK roads for around 27 years based on our analysis of 16,746 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Suzuki Carry?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Suzuki Carry?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Suzuki Carry is 2014 with a 92.2% pass rate across 64 tests.