Used buying checklist

Suzuki Splash reliability, common problems and used buying checks

A used Suzuki Splash looks worse than average for reliability in UK MOT data: 23.0% of 23,240 tests failed, compared with 18.7% across all indexed models. A good example should have a clean MOT history for corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and windscreen, wipers, and mirrors.

Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). MOT data does not capture every reliability issue, especially intermittent engine, gearbox or infotainment faults that do not appear during the test.

• 23.0% MOT failure rate
• Median tested mileage 55,413 miles
• 5,354 failed MOT tests analysed

Most useful finding

Corrosion and structure is the clearest area to check

Corrosion and structure is the clearest named problem area in this model's MOT history (53.4 MOT notes per 100 tests). Example MOT phrases from this area include excessively corroded, corroded and seriously weakened, and ferrule excessively corroded.

Example MOT phrases to search in the car's history:

• excessively corroded
• corroded and seriously weakened
• ferrule excessively corroded
• corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened
• ball joint excessively worn
• ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
• across an axle
• ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated
• provides insufficient washer liquid
• does not clear the windscreen effectively

Before you view one

Focus on corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and windscreen, wipers, and mirrors

The model's recorded failure rate is 23.0%, +4.3 percentage points compared with the average across all models. Use the seller questions below to check whether repeat MOT notes have actually been repaired.

• MOT tests analysed23,240 tests
• Median tested mileage55,413 miles
• Failed MOT tests5,354

Used buyer verdict

Should you buy a used Suzuki Splash?

77.0% of the MOT tests we analysed for this model passed. The model's recorded failure rate is 23.0%, +4.3 percentage points compared with the average across all models. This is a buying brief for the exact car in front of you: clean repeat history matters more than badge reputation.

Worse than average in our MOT data

Green light if The car has a tidy MOT pattern, recent repairs for corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, matching tyres, and paperwork for service or recall work.

Renegotiate if The latest MOT mentions corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, consumables are due together, or the seller cannot show what was fixed after advisories.

Walk away if Dangerous defects, corrosion near structural areas, warning lights, or the same component family keep returning without clear repair evidence.

• Repeat unresolved MOT notes for corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and windscreen, wipers, and mirrors
• corrosion and structure appearing across more than one MOT
• Any dangerous MOT failure on the exact car, especially if the same area appears again later
• No paperwork showing applicable recall work has been completed
• A seller who cannot explain MOT wording such as "excessively corroded"

What should I check first?

Start with corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, and emissions, engine, and exhaust. The checklist on this page explains why each area is being recommended, what to inspect, and what to ask the seller. Each item shows whether it comes from MOT results, recall notices, or a standard used-car check.

• Corrosion and structure Seen in MOT results

  Corrosion and structure is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (53.4 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Inspect sills, subframes, mounting points, arches, and underside corrosion advisories.

  • Ask the seller: Has any sill, subframe, mounting-point, chassis, or structural corrosion advisory been repaired properly?
  • Example MOT wording: excessively corroded; corroded and seriously weakened; ferrule excessively corroded
  • Where it shows up: seen across most mileage ranges
• Suspension and steering Seen in MOT results

  Suspension and steering is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (21.5 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Listen for knocks, check uneven tyre wear, and inspect steering play.

  • Ask the seller: Has any suspension, steering, ball-joint, spring, or wheel-bearing advisory been repaired?
  • Example MOT wording: ball joint excessively worn; ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; across an axle
  • Where it shows up: seen across most mileage ranges
• Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors Seen in MOT results

  Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (8.1 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check windscreen damage, wiper operation, washers, mirrors, and demisting.

  • Ask the seller: Have windscreen, wiper, washer, mirror, or demisting faults appeared in recent MOT history?
  • Example MOT wording: provides insufficient washer liquid; does not clear the windscreen effectively; Non obligatory mirror damaged
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 0-50k, 50-100k, and 200k+ miles
• Emissions, engine, and exhaust Seen in MOT results

  Emissions, engine, and exhaust is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (7.5 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check warning lights, smoke, exhaust leaks, recent emissions failures, and service history.

  • Ask the seller: Has the car had repeat emissions, smoke, exhaust, lambda, or engine-warning MOT failures?
  • Example MOT wording: has a major leak of exhaust gases; leaking excessively from engine; Fuel Pipe/s corroded
  • Where it shows up: seen across most mileage ranges
• Lights and electrical Seen in MOT results

  Lights and electrical is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (7.1 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check every lamp, warning light, horn, battery condition, and dashboard messages.

  • Ask the seller: Have any lighting, warning-light, horn, battery, or electrical MOT notes come back more than once?
  • Example MOT wording: worn down to wear indicator; Vehicles internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights; inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 100-150k and 150-200k miles
• Tyres and wheels Seen in MOT results

  Tyres and wheels is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (2.0 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check tyre age, tread depth, sidewall damage, wheel condition, and alignment wear.

  • Ask the seller: Have uneven tyre wear, damaged tyres, wheel damage, or alignment issues been corrected?
  • Example MOT wording: Nail in tyre; on a single line braking system has no recorded effort at a wheel; has no recorded effort at a wheel

What changes with mileage?

Past 100k miles on the Suzuki Splash, MOT records most often point to corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical.

Common MOT problem areas

23,240 MOT tests analysed for this model

17,432 Distinct vehicles represented

23.0% Recorded MOT test failure rate — +4.3 percentage points vs all models

Common faults: what usually fails on this model?

Corrosion and structure is the clearest named problem area in the MOT history (53.4 MOT notes per 100 tests). These counts are issue notes, not failure rates, because a single MOT can list several faults.

Corrosion and structure

• excessively corroded
• corroded and seriously weakened

53.4 MOT notes per 100 tests

Suspension and steering

• ball joint excessively worn
• ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt

21.5 MOT notes per 100 tests

Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors

• provides insufficient washer liquid
• does not clear the windscreen effectively

8.1 MOT notes per 100 tests

Emissions, engine, and exhaust

• has a major leak of exhaust gases
• leaking excessively from engine

7.5 MOT notes per 100 tests

Lights and electrical

• worn down to wear indicator
• Vehicles internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights

7.1 MOT notes per 100 tests

Tyres and wheels

• Nail in tyre
• on a single line braking system has no recorded effort at a wheel

2.0 MOT notes per 100 tests

Brakes

• remains on when the brakes are released
• leaking such that brake functionality is affected

0.0 MOT notes per 100 tests

Recall-related areas to verify

Official recall areas

Manufacturer recall notices for the Suzuki Splash mainly involve one area: emissions, engine, and exhaust. Treat each as something to verify on the specific car you are viewing; the recall table below shows the official notice text.

Emissions, engine, and exhaust

• Engine failure may occur

1 recall · 1,568 vehicles

Mileage and age checks

Mileage changes: what starts showing up after high mileage?

Past 100k miles on the Suzuki Splash, MOT records most often point to corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical. On lower-mileage cars, the most common named areas are corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and windscreen, wipers, and mirrors.

Mileage range	Tests	Vehicles	Failure rate (vs all models)	Median mileage
0-50k	9,838	7,963	17.0%+6.2 percentage points vs all models	35,323 miles
50-100k	11,282	8,043	26.9%+6.2 percentage points vs all models	68,785 miles
100-150k	1,895	1,298	31.8%+5.6 percentage points vs all models	112,345 miles
150-200k	126	86	32.5%+5.3 percentage points vs all models	158,767 miles
200k+	7	5	42.9%+16.3 percentage points vs all models	243,544 miles

Problem areas by mileage

Past 100k miles on the Suzuki Splash, MOT records most often point to corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical.

Mileage range	Car areas most often recorded	Specific MOT defect examples
0-50k	Corrosion and structure (38.9 MOT notes per 100 tests) Suspension and steering (12.3 MOT notes per 100 tests) Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors (6.7 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
50-100k	Corrosion and structure (62.0 MOT notes per 100 tests) Suspension and steering (26.5 MOT notes per 100 tests) Emissions, engine, and exhaust (9.5 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
100-150k	Corrosion and structure (75.5 MOT notes per 100 tests) Suspension and steering (38.3 MOT notes per 100 tests) Lights and electrical (19.7 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
150-200k	Corrosion and structure (98.4 MOT notes per 100 tests) Suspension and steering (49.2 MOT notes per 100 tests) Emissions, engine, and exhaust (24.6 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
200k+	Corrosion and structure (128.6 MOT notes per 100 tests) Suspension and steering (71.4 MOT notes per 100 tests) Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors (42.9 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.

Fair comparisons: is this problem normal for its age?

The MOT failure rate rises from 16.8% at 6-10 years to 30.5% at 15+ years. Compare the car with the nearest age range before treating a fault as normal wear or a warning sign. The average MOT failure rate across all models in the same dataset is 18.7%. The highest failure rate by age is 30.5% for 15+ years cars, based on 1,233 tests.

Age range	Tests	Vehicles	Failure rate (vs all models)	Median age
6-10 years 2016–2020 reg.	6,299	5,110	16.8%+0.2 percentage points vs all models	9.3 years
10-15 years 2011–2016 reg.	15,708	11,591	25.0%+1.4 percentage points vs all models	12.1 years
15+ years pre-2011 reg.	1,233	859	30.5%+4.6 percentage points vs all models	15.2 years

Recall records and data freshness

Recall context: are there safety notices to know about?

1 relevant recall notice appear for this model. Treat them as safety checks to verify for the exact car, not as normal MOT wear.

2014-10-30	ENGINE FAILURE MAY OCCUR The bolts fixing the pulley to the water pump may work loose and drop out. If they drop out the water pump will not function and the engine will overheat leading to possible engine damage. Check bolts for tightness. If existing bolts are to correct torque replace with new bolts. If existing bolts are not to correct torque replace bolts water pump and drive belt.

Related searches

Common ways people look up the Suzuki Splash. Each link runs the search and lands on the relevant section of this report.

• Suzuki Splash common problems
• Suzuki Splash reliability
• Suzuki Splash after 100k miles
• Suzuki Splash after 200k miles
• Suzuki Splash high mileage common problems
• Suzuki Splash age related problems
• Suzuki Splash MOT failures
• Suzuki Splash recalls

Related reliability guides

Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). These are patterns from many MOT tests and recall notices. They help you decide what to inspect and what to ask; they do not certify the condition of one specific car.