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Suzuki Jimny Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Suzuki Jimny car check

Is the Suzuki Jimny reliable? We analysed 677,512 real MOT tests across 43,507 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 677,512 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
76.0%
Typical Mileage
54,397mi
Annual Mileage
3,858mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
28yrs

The Suzuki Jimny is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Suzuki Jimny.

Suzuki Jimny Number Plates

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

Suzuki Jimny MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

98.7%
2024
91.2%
2023
91.5%
2021
92.1%
2020
92.6%
2019
87.1%
2018
86.5%
2017
85.2%
2016
83.8%
2015
83.7%
2014
84.4%
2013
82.5%
2012
81.3%
2011
81%
2010
81.4%
2009
79.9%
2008
76.4%
2007
75.2%
2006
75.7%
2005
75.5%
2004

Suzuki Jimny Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Brake pipe excessively corroded 18,210
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 11,190
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 7,055
position lamp(s) not working 6,970
Axle swivel joint has excessive play 5,518
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 5,477
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 5,282
Registration plate lamp not working 5,005
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 4,886
wheel bearing has excessive play 4,469

Suzuki Jimny Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,024 mi/yr
Typical
3,858 mi/yr
Average
4,858 mi/yr
Heavy usage
6,421 mi/yr

Suzuki Jimny MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2024 75 98.7% 160 1,722 5,048
2023 68 91.2% 2,919 7,906 16,504
2021 71 91.5% 13,825 26,652 42,817
2020 3,350 92.1% 11,436 19,735 29,830
2019 5,639 92.6% 13,278 21,965 34,290
2018 3,132 87.1% 13,473 21,992 34,885
2017 7,128 86.5% 13,396 22,956 35,530
2016 9,003 85.2% 15,586 26,008 41,120
2015 9,776 83.8% 17,760 28,728 44,816
2014 9,805 83.7% 18,758 31,741 48,636
2013 11,219 84.4% 21,423 34,894 54,014
2012 12,657 82.5% 23,450 38,581 59,063
2011 11,638 81.3% 24,344 40,142 61,232
2010 11,605 81.0% 25,600 43,711 65,073
2009 15,872 81.4% 27,497 45,753 68,936
2008 25,440 79.9% 30,491 49,174 71,686
2007 42,437 76.4% 31,968 51,838 75,153
2006 47,622 75.2% 33,589 54,260 77,377
2005 57,949 75.7% 34,594 55,000 78,117
2004 77,230 75.5% 34,890 55,220 78,632

How Long Does a Suzuki Jimny Last?

Based on 43,507 Suzuki Jimny vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.6 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
28 years

Suzuki Jimny Mileage Distribution

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

Median
54,397 mi
75th Percentile
78,107 mi
95th Percentile
114,545 mi
Max Recorded
996,669 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Suzuki Jimny

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

Best year
2024

98.7% MOT pass rate from 75 tests

Year to avoid
1998

70.4% MOT pass rate from 7,027 tests

The best year to buy a used Suzuki Jimny is 2024, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 98.7% across 75 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Suzuki Jimny Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Suzuki Jimny THIS CAR 76.0% 677,512 54,397 mi 28 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
Volkswagen Sharan 72.1% 1,070,633 99,516 mi 30 yrs

Compared to the Suzuki Swift (76.1% pass rate) and the Suzuki Alto (74.0% pass rate), the Suzuki Jimny sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Suzuki Jimny?

The Suzuki Jimny has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.0% across 677,512 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 Jimny are brake pipe excessively corroded (18,210 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (11,190), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (7,055). 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 Jimny owner drives around 3,858 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 Jimny models stay on UK roads for around 28 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 Jimny — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Suzuki Jimny reliable?
Based on 677,512 MOT tests, the Suzuki Jimny has a 76.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Suzuki Jimny?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Suzuki Jimny do per year?
The typical Suzuki Jimny does around 3,858 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Suzuki Jimny last?
Most Suzuki Jimny models stay on UK roads for around 28 years based on our analysis of 43,507 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Suzuki Jimny?
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 Jimny?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Suzuki Jimny is 2024 with a 98.7% pass rate across 75 tests.