Suzuki GT500 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Suzuki GT500 car check
Is the Suzuki GT500 reliable? We analysed 1,058 real MOT tests across 225 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Suzuki GT500? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Suzuki GT500 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include steering headbearing has excessive free play, horn not working and tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instruction/s. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Suzuki GT500.
Suzuki GT500 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Suzuki GT500. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Suzuki GT500 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Suzuki GT500 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Suzuki GT500 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Suzuki GT500 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Suzuki GT500 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Suzuki GT500 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Suzuki GT500 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Suzuki GT500 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 62 | 88.7% | 8,095 | 14,742 | 17,807 |
| 1977 | 488 | 91.4% | 15,042 | 22,674 | 31,805 |
| 1976 | 303 | 84.8% | 16,990 | 22,842 | 29,167 |
| 1975 | 66 | 90.9% | 6,532 | 14,887 | 38,783 |
How Long Does a Suzuki GT500 Last?
Based on 225 Suzuki GT500 vehicles on UK roads.
Suzuki GT500 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Suzuki GT500 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Suzuki GT500
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
91.4% MOT pass rate from 488 tests
84.8% MOT pass rate from 303 tests
The best year to buy a used Suzuki GT500 is 1977, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.4% across 488 tests. The 1976 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Suzuki GT500 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki GT500 THIS CAR | 89.2% | 1,058 | 20,949 mi | 51 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 |
| Vauxhall Mokka Sri Turbo Auto | 87.3% | 983 | 23,914 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Suzuki Swift (76.1% pass rate) and the Suzuki Alto (74.0% pass rate), the Suzuki GT500 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Suzuki GT500 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Suzuki GT500Should you buy a used Suzuki GT500?
The Suzuki GT500 has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.2% across 1,058 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 GT500 are steering headbearing has excessive free play (6 recorded failures), horn not working (6), and tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instruction/s (6). 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 GT500 owner drives around 186 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 GT500 models stay on UK roads for around 51 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.