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Suzuki DR350S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Suzuki DR350S car check

Is the Suzuki DR350S reliable? We analysed 3,461 real MOT tests across 478 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,461 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.7%
Typical Mileage
14,802mi
Annual Mileage
286mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
36yrs

The Suzuki DR350S is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include reflector on motorcycle missing, wheel bearings have excessive free play and wheel bearings have excessive free play. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Suzuki DR350S.

Suzuki DR350S Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Suzuki DR350S. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Suzuki DR350S MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Suzuki DR350S to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

79.7%
2003
88.9%
2002
80%
1999
82.1%
1998
79.6%
1997
80.2%
1996
80.4%
1995
80.9%
1994
81.9%
1993
84.1%
1992
81%
1991
86.4%
1990

Suzuki DR350S Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Suzuki DR350S fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

reflector on motorcycle missing 49
wheel bearings have excessive free play 47
wheel bearings have excessive free play 43
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 43
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 31
Tyre is unsuitable 23
suspension bush has excessive free play 22
Direction indicator missing 22
Throttle operating incorrectly 17
Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user 16

Suzuki DR350S Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Suzuki DR350S owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
91 mi/yr
Typical
286 mi/yr
Average
701 mi/yr
Heavy usage
746 mi/yr

Suzuki DR350S MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Suzuki DR350S year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 64 79.7% 16,338 22,836 28,180
2002 54 88.9% 13,236 22,032 30,690
1999 160 80.0% 6,914 14,161 22,372
1998 123 82.1% 7,978 13,788 19,607
1997 181 79.6% 7,753 12,652 17,926
1996 323 80.2% 10,597 14,708 21,268
1995 459 80.4% 7,567 11,794 18,665
1994 497 80.9% 6,443 13,854 19,824
1993 430 81.9% 11,306 15,782 22,104
1992 517 84.1% 9,825 16,824 22,085
1991 427 81.0% 7,919 15,335 21,265
1990 88 86.4% 7,564 15,814 19,280

How Long Does a Suzuki DR350S Last?

Based on 478 Suzuki DR350S vehicles on UK roads.

Average
22.1 years
Median
23.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
36 years

Suzuki DR350S Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Suzuki DR350S MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
14,802 mi
75th Percentile
21,343 mi
95th Percentile
44,922 mi
Max Recorded
567,348 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Suzuki DR350S

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

Best year
2002

88.9% MOT pass rate from 54 tests

Year to avoid
1997

79.6% MOT pass rate from 181 tests

The best year to buy a used Suzuki DR350S is 2002, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.9% across 54 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Suzuki DR350S Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Suzuki DR350S THIS CAR 81.7% 3,461 14,802 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
Seat Leon SE Dynamic TSI 89.6% 2,658 33,711 mi — yrs

Compared to the Suzuki Swift (76.1% pass rate) and the Suzuki Alto (74.0% pass rate), the Suzuki DR350S outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Suzuki DR350S?

The Suzuki DR350S has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.7% across 3,461 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 DR350S are reflector on motorcycle missing (49 recorded failures), wheel bearings have excessive free play (47), and wheel bearings have excessive free play (43). 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 DR350S owner drives around 286 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 DR350S 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 DR350S — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Suzuki DR350S reliable?
Based on 3,461 MOT tests, the Suzuki DR350S has a 81.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Suzuki DR350S?
The most common MOT failures are reflector on motorcycle missing, wheel bearings have excessive free play, and wheel bearings have excessive free play. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Suzuki DR350S do per year?
The typical Suzuki DR350S does around 286 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Suzuki DR350S last?
Most Suzuki DR350S models stay on UK roads for around 36 years based on our analysis of 478 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Suzuki DR350S?
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 DR350S?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Suzuki DR350S is 2002 with a 88.9% pass rate across 54 tests.