Suzuki Alto (1999)

1,775 real MOT outcomes analysed • 65.1% first-time pass rate

1999 Suzuki Alto

CarHunch analysed 1,775 real MOT records for the 1999 Suzuki Alto. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 14.9% below UK average
65.1%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
50,924
typical mileage
38,078–63,179 middle half
25.5%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
3.44
avg MOT failures per car
over 9.5 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1999 Suzuki Alto

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 25.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Suzuki Alto

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (100%) 1,774 65.1% 3.44
Diesel (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 1999 Suzuki Alto vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

38,078
low mileage
50,924
typical
63,179
high mileage

Half of all 1999 Suzuki Alto vehicles fall between 38,078 and 63,179 miles.

1999 Suzuki Alto — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 20 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 (5% of peak).

414 20 2014 2024

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.

MOT History Averages

9.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
3.44
Avg failures per vehicle
9.1
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1999 Suzuki Alto

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 42.1%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 40.7%
    Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 40.5%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 33.7%
    Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded
  • 31.8%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 29.4%
    Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
  • 27.8%
    Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits
  • 25.6%
    Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Suzuki Alto?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Suzuki Alto:

1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015