Suzuki Alto 2003: MOT failure rate for its age
54.7% of 4,677 MOT tests of the Suzuki Alto first registered in 2003 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 100.7 (95% CI 96.8–104.6; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2003 build year is no different from other years of the same model at the same age.
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 54.7 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 4677 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 96.8–104.6) | 100.7 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 4677 |
| Rank among this model's 13 build years | 7 | of 13 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 4677 |
| Tested in 2024 | 390 | tests | median 54,284 miles | 2024 | 390 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2003 Suzuki Alto fail at each age?
Cars built in 2003 were tested at ages 16 to 21 between 2019 and 2024. Each row compares their first-time failure share with what this model normally shows at that age, after allowing for the overall failure level of each test year.
| Age | Tests | Failed, % | 95% interval | Normal for this model at that age, % | Index (100 = normal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 1,587 | 57.4 | 55–59.8 | 59.2 | 96.9 |
| 17 | 1,109 | 55.5 | 52.6–58.4 | 53.8 | 103.2 |
| 18 | 830 | 52.4 | 49–55.8 | 51.6 | 101.6 |
| 19 | 631 | 53.1 | 49.2–57 | 50.3 | 105.6 |
| 20 | 520 | 50.4 | 46.1–54.7 | 50 | 100.7 |
| 21 | 390 (rough estimate) | 56.9 | 52–61.7 | not available | not available |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,067 (initial tests) · Method: normal rate = this model's first-time failure share at that age across its build years (cells of 400+ tests), adjusted for each test year's overall level; cells of 30+ tests, under 500 marked rough · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
What fails most on the 2003 Suzuki Alto?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2003 is brakes: 49.6 items per 100 first tests, against 15.5 across all build years of the Suzuki Alto. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2003 were tested at ages 16 to 21.
| Failure group | Built 2003, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 49.6 | 15.5 | 2,515 |
| Suspension | 42.9 | 13 | 2,172 |
| Body, chassis, structure | 32.3 | 11 | 1,637 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 28.6 | 18.5 | 1,451 |
| Tyres | 12.6 | 9.3 | 636 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,067 (initial tests of this build year) · Method: failure items grouped by DVSA's top-level defect groups, per 100 initial tests; groups with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How does 2003 compare with the years around it?
Among the 13 published build years of the Suzuki Alto, 2003 ranks 7 (1 = fails least for its age). 2002: index 95.1. 2004: index 102.9.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 102.4 | 85.8–118.9 | no different (rough estimate) | 267 |
| 2002 | 95.1 | 78.7–111.6 | no different (rough estimate) | 251 |
| 2003 | 100.7 | 96.8–104.6 | no different | 4,677 |
| 2004 | 102.9 | 100.3–105.6 | worse | 10,659 |
| 2005 | 108.0 | 105.3–110.6 | worse | 12,050 |
| 2006 | 114.1 | 110.4–117.8 | worse | 6,816 |
| 2009 | 94.8 | 93.2–96.5 | better | 35,135 |
| 2010 | 101.1 | 99.1–103.1 | no different | 28,561 |
| 2011 | 99.2 | 97.2–101.3 | no different | 28,739 |
| 2012 | 101.0 | 98.9–103.1 | no different | 29,025 |
| 2013 | 98.4 | 97.0–99.8 | better | 72,722 |
| 2014 | 99.3 | 97.9–100.7 | no different | 78,179 |
| 2015 | 97.8 | 94.1–101.6 | no different | 11,146 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 318,227 (initial tests) · Method: observed failures against those expected for the same model at the same ages, test-year level adjusted; verdict follows the printed one-decimal bound · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Suzuki Alto 2003 MOT statistics (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 30 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/suzuki-alto/2003/
How every figure is calculated: methodology. Age, test year and build year are tied together (age = test year − build year), so the test-year level is taken as observed, not estimated.
Other pages for this model
Suzuki Alto 2001 · Suzuki Alto 2002 · Suzuki Alto 2004 · Suzuki Alto 2005 · Suzuki Alto 2006 · Suzuki Alto 2009 · Suzuki Alto 2010 · Suzuki Alto 2011 · Suzuki Alto 2012 · Suzuki Alto 2013 · Suzuki Alto 2014 · Suzuki Alto 2015 · Suzuki Alto in Finland · Suzuki Alto in the Netherlands · Suzuki Alto by postcode area · Suzuki Alto body, chassis and structure failures · Suzuki Alto brakes failures · Suzuki Alto vehicle identification failures · Suzuki Alto lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Suzuki Alto noise, emissions and leaks failures · Suzuki Alto road wheels failures · Suzuki Alto seat belts and airbags failures · Suzuki Alto steering failures · Suzuki Alto suspension failures · Suzuki Alto tyres failures · Suzuki Alto visibility failures