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Suzuki DR250 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Suzuki DR250 car check

Is the Suzuki DR250 reliable? We analysed 1,756 real MOT tests across 189 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,756 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
82.2%
Typical Mileage
19,287mi
Annual Mileage
329mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
36yrs

The Suzuki DR250 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include wheel bearings have excessive free play, reflector on motorcycle missing and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Suzuki DR250.

Suzuki DR250 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Suzuki DR250. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Suzuki DR250 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Suzuki DR250 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

80.8%
2005
72.4%
2004
87.1%
2003
88.7%
2002
85%
2001
79.7%
2000
75.7%
1999
79.3%
1998
83.3%
1997
83.9%
1996
89.4%
1995
83.8%
1990

Suzuki DR250 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Suzuki DR250 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

wheel bearings have excessive free play 29
reflector on motorcycle missing 25
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 21
wheel bearings have excessive free play 19
Direction indicator not working 15
Wheel spoke excessively loose 14
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 11
Tyre is unsuitable 11
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 10
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 10

Suzuki DR250 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Suzuki DR250 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
92 mi/yr
Typical
329 mi/yr
Average
780 mi/yr
Heavy usage
857 mi/yr

Suzuki DR250 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Suzuki DR250 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2005 78 80.8% 12,889 17,414 28,830
2004 134 72.4% 17,535 21,767 29,522
2003 209 87.1% 11,368 15,048 22,762
2002 97 88.7% 8,140 21,854 29,667
2001 160 85.0% 18,144 27,713 35,955
2000 212 79.7% 9,636 20,825 29,764
1999 214 75.7% 12,127 17,470 27,444
1998 111 79.3% 4,287 14,311 19,670
1997 78 83.3% 16,159 31,402 37,524
1996 62 83.9% 13,858 19,422 32,039
1995 141 89.4% 18,522 22,725 27,178
1990 74 83.8% 11,052 19,048 22,952

How Long Does a Suzuki DR250 Last?

Based on 189 Suzuki DR250 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
18.2 years
Median
19.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
36 years

Suzuki DR250 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Suzuki DR250 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
19,287 mi
75th Percentile
28,065 mi
95th Percentile
44,211 mi
Max Recorded
247,530 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Suzuki DR250

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

Best year
1995

89.4% MOT pass rate from 141 tests

Year to avoid
2004

72.4% MOT pass rate from 134 tests

The best year to buy a used Suzuki DR250 is 1995, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.4% across 141 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Suzuki DR250 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Suzuki DR250 THIS CAR 82.2% 1,756 19,287 mi 36 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
Yamaha Fjr 1300 As 91.3% 1,263 20,464 mi 20 yrs

Compared to the Suzuki Swift (76.1% pass rate) and the Suzuki Alto (74.0% pass rate), the Suzuki DR250 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Suzuki DR250 you like?

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Should you buy a used Suzuki DR250?

The Suzuki DR250 has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.2% across 1,756 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Suzuki DR250 are wheel bearings have excessive free play (29 recorded failures), reflector on motorcycle missing (25), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (21). 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 DR250 owner drives around 329 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 DR250 models stay on UK roads for around 36 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 DR250 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Suzuki DR250 reliable?
Based on 1,756 MOT tests, the Suzuki DR250 has a 82.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Suzuki DR250?
The most common MOT failures are wheel bearings have excessive free play, reflector on motorcycle missing, and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Suzuki DR250 do per year?
The typical Suzuki DR250 does around 329 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Suzuki DR250 last?
Most Suzuki DR250 models stay on UK roads for around 36 years based on our analysis of 189 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Suzuki DR250?
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 DR250?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Suzuki DR250 is 1995 with a 89.4% pass rate across 141 tests.