2002 Suzuki Wagon-R+ 1.3L Petrol · FX02 WOU

A twenty-four year-old Suzuki Wagon R+ carrying roughly 3,300 miles per year presents a roadworthiness record dominated by recurring electrical and suspension concerns rather than any single isolated failure. The most recent test on 6 August 2024 resulted in a fail with major defects for both front position lamps and the rear registration plate lamp, alongside an advisory for the engine management light remaining illuminated and an offside front tyre worn close to the legal limit on the edge. This repeats a pattern established in 2023, when an identical pair of position lamp failures on the same day caused a fail with repair items for the washer system, while a separate pass was recorded with advisories for the engine management light, an offside rear trailing arm showing corrosion not deemed seriously weakened, and slight play in the offside front outer ball joint. The 2022 cycle is particularly concerning, as a dangerous defect was issued for the offside rear service brake recording no effort at the wheel, accompanied by major imbalances across the rear axle and a failed rear stop lamp, indicating a serious shortfall in braking performance that warranted immediate withdrawal from service at that point. Mileage accumulation over the recorded period remains modest, with the figure of 79,160 miles spread across approximately two and a half decades suggesting either a light-use second car or extended periods of standing. The MOT history itself reflects this, as tests have clustered between 2020 and 2024 with several recorded within days of one another in 2022 and 2023, suggesting the vehicle was likely brought out of standing for testing and re-presented promptly following repairs. Low annual mileage does reduce wear on high-stress drivetrain components, but it does not arrest corrosion of underbody components or the drying and perishing of rubber boots, and the test record bears this out through brake pipe corrosion advisories on both rear pipes in 2020 and again in 2021, and a severely deteriorated nearside front CV boot recorded as a minor in 2020. Prospective buyers should prioritise a thorough inspection of the undercarriage, particularly the rear brake pipes which have been flagged for corrosion on both sides in consecutive years, and inspect the full length of any underbody steel for surface rust that could indicate advancing corrosion of structural areas. The suspension is a clear area of focus, as the offside rear trailing arm corrosion advisory in 2023 and the offside front outer ball joint play should be checked for any progression, with the buyer advised to listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over uneven surfaces and to feel for vagueness or shudders through the steering wheel. On a test drive, the braking system warrants particular attention given the 2022 dangerous defect for the offside rear service brake: the car should pull up squarely without any pull to one side, the pedal should feel firm and progressive, and the rear stop lamps should illuminate cleanly with the first application of the brake. Finally, the persistent engine management light advisories across 2023 and 2024 indicate an unresolved emissions or sensor fault that should be diagnosed with a code reader prior to purchase, and the front lighting circuits should be verified to ensure both position lamps and the registration plate illumination function correctly together, as these have failed repeatedly on the nearside and offside.