Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2001 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 2001 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 2001 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.

How many 2001 Suzuki Baleno vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

23% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2001 Suzuki Baleno reliable?

Based on MOT data from 814 vehicles, the 2001 Suzuki Baleno has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2001 Suzuki Baleno?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2001 Suzuki Baleno are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (54.5% of vehicles), Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (49.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (46.5% 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 2001 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 (2001)

814 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.4% first-time pass rate

2001 Suzuki Baleno

CarHunch analysed 814 real MOT records for the 2001 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 2001 Suzuki Baleno struggles to reach the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of 73.4% against the national 80%—a meaningful gap that suggests more reliability issues than typical. More concerning, nearly a quarter of these cars (23.2%) have been flagged for dangerous defects at some point, which is a significant buyer worry.

At around 66,000 miles on the median, these Balenos have fairly typical mileage for their age, but they're racking up an average of 3.06 failures and 13.2 advisories per MOT, pointing to wear and decay across multiple systems rather than one isolated problem. If you're considering one, budget for repair costs and get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically covers suspension, brakes, and exhaust systems—the likely culprits behind those failure numbers.

The 2001 Suzuki Baleno has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.4% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

73.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

23.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.06

Over 10.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

66k

Middle half: 52k–82k

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 13.2 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 814 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 814 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 54.5%

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.

Lighting 49.8%

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.

Brake wear 37.7%

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

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

Other issues 30.9%

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 814 Suzuki Baleno cars.

Before you buy a 2001 Suzuki Baleno

Based on MOT data from 814 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 23.2% 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%)	812	73.4%	3.06

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 2001 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.

65,632

typical

51,657

low mileage

82,422

high mileage

Half of all 2001 Suzuki Baleno vehicles fall between 51,657 and 82,422 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 51,657 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.

✓ 51,657–82,422 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2001 Suzuki Balenos sit.

⚠ Over 111,269 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2001 Suzuki Baleno — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 2001 Suzuki Balenos are still active.

Numbers are declining — 16 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (6% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* 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

10.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.06

Avg failures per vehicle

13.2

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