Performance by cohort

3 year bands · 42,802 tests

Pass rate climbs 21.8 points across the cohorts — newer Jimny examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.

Pre-2018 cohort 38,906

Pass

72.0%

Fail

22.5%

PRS

4.3%

Avg mileage at test

73,287 mi

2018–2020 cohort 3,783

Pass

91.7%

Fail

5.2%

PRS

2.7%

Avg mileage at test

25,315 mi

2021+ cohort 113

Pass

93.8%

Fail

3.5%

PRS

0.0%

Avg mileage at test

9,863 mi

Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.

Generations on file · 4

Suzuki Jimny · UK market

Photos: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA / CC BY / public domain.

The picture

Suzuki Jimny: mixed MOT record across 30,022 tests

The Suzuki Jimny is a series of four-wheel drive (4WD) off-road mini SUV, manufactured and marketed by Japanese automaker Suzuki since 1970.

MOT data from 30,022 tests puts this car on a 73.7% first-time pass rate, below the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 66,617 miles. The most common fail item is body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, followed by the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorageis significantly reduced or inadequately repaired.

Buyers weighing up a used Jimny should treat the failure breakdown as a pre-purchase checklist. The pass rate is reasonable, but the gap between first attempt and a clean sheet narrows with age and mileage.

ABI Insurance Group

Group 15–20

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 →

15–20

out of 50

Compare quotes →

Top ten reasons for rejection.

Filter failures:

Hide wear items to see the model's real defects.

01

Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point

2,501 occurrences · 5.8% of tests
02

Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective

1,364 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
03

Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view

1,162 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
04

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

1,135 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
05

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

1,125 occurrences · 2.6% of tests
06

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

1,060 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
07

Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced

995 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
08

A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources

858 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
09

A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened

812 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
10

Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

733 occurrences · 1.7% 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 2 failures

£70–£260

If every one of this Jimny'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.

Year-band analysis

Best year to buy. Worst to avoid.

First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 21.8-point gap between bands means the year you buy Suzuki Jimny has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.

Best band to buy

93.8%

2021+ registration

the 2021-on band climbs to 93.8% — a 21.8-point improvement. Tests in this band average 9,863 miles — roughly 63K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: not working, does not clear the windscreen effectively — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.

Band to be cautious about

72.0%

Pre-2018 registration

On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 72.0% pass rate against a fleet average of 93.8% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting, lens slightly defective, and prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength. Average mileage on test for this band is 73,287 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.

Best band to buy: 2021+ (93.8% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (72.0% pass). That's a 21.8-point spread across 38,906 older tests and 113 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.

Year-spread leaderboard →

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

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

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equip

Equip ELF039 Suzuki Petrol and Diesel Locking Fuel Cap

£8.79

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Motor World

Motor World Suzuki Carry Van Car Floor Mat Set

£32.99

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Motor World

Motor World Suzuki Grand Vitara SWB 1998-2005 Car Floor Mat Set

£32.99

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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.

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Recall history

8 UK recalls on record.

The Jimny has 8 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.

See all recalls

Buying or keeping a Jimny?

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 Jimny 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.