Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 Suzuki Liana?

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 2003 Suzuki Liana?

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 2003 Suzuki Liana?

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 2003 Suzuki Liana vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% 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 2003 Suzuki Liana reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,401 vehicles, the 2003 Suzuki Liana has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Suzuki Liana?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Suzuki Liana are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (75.7% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (69.9% of vehicles), Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (68.1% 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 2003 Suzuki Liana?

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 Liana (2003)

2,401 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.9% first-time pass rate

2003 Suzuki Liana

CarHunch analysed 2,401 real MOT records for the 2003 Suzuki Liana. 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 2003 Suzuki Liana has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.9%, which sits 4.1 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—a modest shortfall, but more concerning is that 28.5% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above the threshold where this becomes a genuine buyer concern. This suggests the Liana ages less gracefully than typical, particularly around safety-critical systems.

The median mileage of 61,218 miles is reasonable for a 21-year-old car, yet these vehicles average 3.78 failures and 18.1 advisories per test, indicating persistent mechanical niggles rather than one-off catastrophic failures. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the brake system and suspension—these are the likely culprits behind both the dangerous defect rate and the high advisory count.

The 2003 Suzuki Liana has a decent first-time pass rate (75.9%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

75.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

28.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.78

Over 14.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

61k

Middle half: 47k–75k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 18.1 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 2,401 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,401 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 75.7%

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 68.1%

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 44.5%

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Other issues 24.4%

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread · Fuel pipe/s corroded

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,401 Suzuki Liana cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Suzuki Liana

Based on MOT data from 2,401 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.5% 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%)	2,399	75.9%	3.77

Colour Breakdown

Based on 11,746 Suzuki Liana vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 33.2%

3,897

Blue 17.5%

2,055

Black 16%

1,881

Red 14.5%

1,706

Beige 12.4%

1,455

Green 5.7%

671

White 0.4%

Gold 0.2%

Maroon 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Suzuki Liana 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.

61,218

typical

47,112

low mileage

74,982

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Suzuki Liana vehicles fall between 47,112 and 74,982 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 47,112 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.

✓ 47,112–74,982 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Suzuki Lianas sit.

⚠ Over 101,225 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Suzuki Liana — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 2003 Suzuki Lianas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 96 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

14.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.78

Avg failures per vehicle

18.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007

Or browse all models: Suzuki →

Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Suzuki Liana stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing