Suzuki T500 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Suzuki T500 car check
Is the Suzuki T500 reliable? We analysed 1,269 real MOT tests across 337 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Suzuki T500? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Suzuki T500 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include steering headbearing has excessive free play, position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on and roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%.. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Suzuki T500.
Suzuki T500 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Suzuki T500. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Suzuki T500 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Suzuki T500 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Suzuki T500 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Suzuki T500 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Suzuki T500 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Suzuki T500 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Suzuki T500 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Suzuki T500 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 74 | 87.8% | 7,828 | 12,403 | 17,750 |
| 1976 | 103 | 89.3% | 17,780 | 26,688 | 41,673 |
| 1975 | 218 | 87.6% | 13,664 | 25,479 | 36,769 |
| 1974 | 178 | 88.8% | 10,977 | 24,308 | 44,543 |
| 1973 | 88 | 92.0% | 9,498 | 17,954 | 32,714 |
| 1972 | 113 | 90.3% | 11,508 | 19,025 | 27,974 |
| 1971 | 66 | 83.3% | 12,259 | 16,528 | 36,816 |
How Long Does a Suzuki T500 Last?
Based on 337 Suzuki T500 vehicles on UK roads.
Suzuki T500 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Suzuki T500 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 T500
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
92.0% MOT pass rate from 88 tests
83.3% MOT pass rate from 66 tests
The best year to buy a used Suzuki T500 is 1973, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.0% across 88 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Suzuki T500 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki T500 THIS CAR | 89.2% | 1,269 | 17,745 mi | 55 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 |
| Kia Sportage Xe | 73.6% | 454 | 113,727 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Suzuki Swift (76.1% pass rate) and the Suzuki Alto (74.0% pass rate), the Suzuki T500 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Suzuki T500 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 T500Should you buy a used Suzuki T500?
The Suzuki T500 has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.2% across 1,269 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 T500 are steering headbearing has excessive free play (7 recorded failures), position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on (5), and roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. (4). 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 T500 owner drives around 169 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 T500 models stay on UK roads for around 55 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.