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Suzuki RG250 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Suzuki RG250 car check

Is the Suzuki RG250 reliable? We analysed 1,187 real MOT tests across 279 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,187 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
85.8%
Typical Mileage
21,248mi
Annual Mileage
150mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
43yrs

The Suzuki RG250 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and reflector on motorcycle missing. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Suzuki RG250.

Suzuki RG250 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Suzuki RG250. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Suzuki RG250 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Suzuki RG250 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

98.3%
1996
84.3%
1993
84.7%
1990
76.7%
1988
84.8%
1987
83.3%
1986
87.7%
1985
87.1%
1984
95.2%
1983

Suzuki RG250 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Suzuki RG250 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 17
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 15
reflector on motorcycle missing 11
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 8
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 7
Horn not working 7
Footrest missing 6
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 5
Direction indicator missing 5
Tyre valve stem damaged which could cause sudden tyre deflation 5

Suzuki RG250 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Suzuki RG250 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
38 mi/yr
Typical
150 mi/yr
Average
537 mi/yr
Heavy usage
354 mi/yr

Suzuki RG250 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Suzuki RG250 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1996 58 98.3% 11,270 23,621 34,036
1993 51 84.3% 15,693 18,545 29,410
1990 85 84.7% 3,717 14,518 20,610
1988 73 76.7% 21,977 28,056 31,894
1987 105 84.8% 13,980 23,035 33,070
1986 150 83.3% 10,018 15,815 24,434
1985 130 87.7% 14,927 26,561 31,238
1984 101 87.1% 21,829 33,058 36,592
1983 63 95.2% 10,404 19,862 25,886

How Long Does a Suzuki RG250 Last?

Based on 279 Suzuki RG250 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
25.2 years
Median
26.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
43 years

Suzuki RG250 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Suzuki RG250 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
21,248 mi
75th Percentile
31,076 mi
95th Percentile
38,912 mi
Max Recorded
98,674 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Suzuki RG250

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

Best year
1996

98.3% MOT pass rate from 58 tests

Year to avoid
1988

76.7% MOT pass rate from 73 tests

The best year to buy a used Suzuki RG250 is 1996, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 98.3% across 58 tests. The 1988 model year has the lowest pass rate at 76.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Suzuki RG250 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Suzuki RG250 THIS CAR 85.8% 1,187 21,248 mi 43 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
Baotian Bt 49 QT-7 69.2% 393 5,375 mi 21 yrs

Compared to the Suzuki Swift (76.1% pass rate) and the Suzuki Alto (74.0% pass rate), the Suzuki RG250 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Suzuki RG250?

The Suzuki RG250 has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.8% across 1,187 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 RG250 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (17 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (15), and reflector on motorcycle missing (11). 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 RG250 owner drives around 150 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 RG250 models stay on UK roads for around 43 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 RG250 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Suzuki RG250 reliable?
Based on 1,187 MOT tests, the Suzuki RG250 has a 85.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Suzuki RG250?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and reflector on motorcycle missing. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Suzuki RG250 do per year?
The typical Suzuki RG250 does around 150 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Suzuki RG250 last?
Most Suzuki RG250 models stay on UK roads for around 43 years based on our analysis of 279 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Suzuki RG250?
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 RG250?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Suzuki RG250 is 1996 with a 98.3% pass rate across 58 tests.