Suzuki
DL
2,134 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where DLs pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 12.4 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
89.9%
Pass-after-fix
3.8%
Fail
5.9%
Avg miles
22,325
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars first registered from January 2006 meet Euro 4 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
The picture
Dl: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,634 MOT tests, the Dl returns 89.9% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a non-functioning shock absorber. Brake pads worn below 1.0 mm and headlamp aim out of spec round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 20,052, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 4–22
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
4–22
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
22 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 02
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
18 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 03
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
12 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 04
A tyre valve seriously damaged or misaligned likely which could cause sudden deflation of the tyre
8 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 05
A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
8 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 06
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
7 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 07
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
5 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 08
Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
5 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 09
A wheel bearing with excessive play
4 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 10
Rear registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps
4 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£150–£335
If every one of this DL's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
Search Amazon UK
Item 03 · Amazon UK
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Hycote
Hycote Touch Up Colour Paint Brush Suzuki Silky Silver Metallic 12.5ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
equip
Equip ELF039 Suzuki Petrol and Diesel Locking Fuel Cap
£8.79
View at My Motor World →
Motor World
Motor World Suzuki Carry Van Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Motor World
Motor World Suzuki Grand Vitara SWB 1998-2005 Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Buying or keeping a DL?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a DL and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.