Does the Suzuki Alto fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Suzuki Alto records 18.51 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 17.98 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (+0.53, 95% interval +0.39 to +0.68). It ranks 264 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Suzuki Alto by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Suzuki Alto is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 12,676 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 12,676 | 3.97 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 10,466 | 3.28 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 7,322 | 2.29 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 4,764 | 1.49 |
| Audible warning inoperative | 4,197 | 1.31 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 319,545 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Suzuki Alto gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
28.7% of Suzuki Alto MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 4,528 miles later (2,044 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,044 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Suzuki Alto 2001 · Suzuki Alto 2002 · Suzuki Alto 2003 · 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 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