Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Suzuki Baleno?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1998 Suzuki Baleno?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1998 Suzuki Baleno?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1998 Suzuki Baleno reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,917 vehicles, the 1998 Suzuki Baleno has a first-time MOT pass rate of 69.3%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Suzuki Baleno?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Suzuki Baleno are: Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (40.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (40.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (37.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1998 Suzuki Baleno?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Suzuki Baleno (1998)

2,917 real MOT outcomes analysed • 69.3% first-time pass rate

1998 Suzuki Baleno

CarHunch analysed 2,917 real MOT records for the 1998 Suzuki Baleno. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1998 Suzuki Baleno is a weaker performer than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 69.3% against the 80% benchmark—meaning nearly one in three fail their test. Dangerous defects are present in 14.1% of these cars, which is a legitimate concern for a buyer, though not in the highest risk bracket.

At nearly 26 years old, these Balenoz typically show around 77,000 miles on the clock, which is reasonable for the age, but they tend to clock up 2.49 failures and 6.5 advisories per test, signalling accumulated wear in multiple systems. If you're considering one, budget for repairs before purchase and have a pre-buy inspection focus on brake and suspension components, which drive most of those failures.

The 1998 Suzuki Baleno has a below-average first-time pass rate (69.3% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

69.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

14.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.49

Over 7.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

77k

Middle half: 62k–94k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 6.5 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 2,917 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,917 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Lighting 40.8%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated · Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Tyre wear 40.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 24.7%

Oil leak · Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split · Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split

Brake wear 21.4%

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,917 Suzuki Baleno cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Suzuki Baleno

Based on MOT data from 2,917 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	2,916	69.3%	2.49

Colour Breakdown

Based on 19,788 Suzuki Baleno vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 25.7%

5,087

Red 21.3%

4,212

White 17.4%

3,447

Green 12.9%

2,554

Silver 12.3%

2,433

Black 3.8%

759

Turquoise 3.6%

715

Grey 2.8%

559

Maroon 0.1%

Purple 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Suzuki Baleno vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

77,050

typical

61,769

low mileage

94,182

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Suzuki Baleno vehicles fall between 61,769 and 94,182 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 61,769 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 61,769–94,182 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Suzuki Balenos sit.

⚠ Over 127,145 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Suzuki Baleno — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 5% of 1998 Suzuki Balenos are still active.

Numbers are declining — 21 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (5% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

7.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.49

Avg failures per vehicle

6.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Suzuki Baleno: All Baleno years → Which year to buy? →

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Buyer beware — pass it on