Suzuki Wagon R 2003: MOT failure rate for its age
44.6% of 13,662 MOT tests of the Suzuki Wagon R 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 98.7 (95% CI 96.2–101.1; 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 | 44.6 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 13662 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 96.2–101.1) | 98.7 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 13662 |
| Rank among this model's 9 build years | 5 | of 9 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 13662 |
| Tested in 2024 | 1469 | tests | median 75,103 miles | 2024 | 1469 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2003 Suzuki Wagon R 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 | 3,225 | 44.5 | 42.8–46.2 | 45.1 | 98.8 |
| 17 | 2,701 | 44.6 | 42.7–46.5 | 45.2 | 98.7 |
| 18 | 2,376 | 44.1 | 42.1–46.1 | 45.2 | 97.6 |
| 19 | 2,089 | 43.8 | 41.6–45.9 | 44.2 | 99.1 |
| 20 | 1,802 | 45 | 42.7–47.3 | 46.1 | 97.6 |
| 21 | 1,469 | 46.7 | 44.2–49.3 | 46.3 | 101 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 13,662 (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 Wagon R?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2003 is suspension: 31.7 items per 100 first tests, against 28.1 across all build years of the Suzuki Wagon R. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 31.7 | 28.1 | 4,327 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 23.8 | 24.2 | 3,252 |
| Brakes | 22.5 | 28.8 | 3,070 |
| Body, chassis, structure | 22.1 | 15.7 | 3,022 |
| Visibility | 13.5 | 13.4 | 1,844 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 13,662 (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 9 published build years of the Suzuki Wagon R, 2003 ranks 5 (1 = fails least for its age). 2002: index 107.8. 2004: index 94.7.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 100.3 | 85.4–115.2 | no different (rough estimate) | 345 |
| 2000 | 103.5 | 98.5–108.6 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,211 |
| 2001 | 103.2 | 99.7–106.7 | no different | 6,823 |
| 2002 | 107.8 | 105.0–110.7 | worse | 11,022 |
| 2003 | 98.7 | 96.2–101.1 | no different | 13,662 |
| 2004 | 94.7 | 92.2–97.2 | better | 12,972 |
| 2005 | 94.3 | 91.4–97.2 | better | 10,180 |
| 2006 | 92.5 | 88.1–96.9 | better | 4,681 |
| 2007 | 96.7 | 91.8–101.6 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,971 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 66,867 (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 Wagon R 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-wagon-r/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 Wagon R 1999 · Suzuki Wagon R 2000 · Suzuki Wagon R 2001 · Suzuki Wagon R 2002 · Suzuki Wagon R 2004 · Suzuki Wagon R 2005 · Suzuki Wagon R 2006 · Suzuki Wagon R 2007 · Suzuki Wagon R in the Netherlands · Suzuki Wagon R by postcode area · Suzuki Wagon R body, chassis and structure failures · Suzuki Wagon R brakes failures · Suzuki Wagon R vehicle identification failures · Suzuki Wagon R lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Suzuki Wagon R noise, emissions and leaks failures · Suzuki Wagon R road wheels failures · Suzuki Wagon R seat belts and airbags failures · Suzuki Wagon R steering failures · Suzuki Wagon R suspension failures · Suzuki Wagon R tyres failures · Suzuki Wagon R visibility failures