2012 Suzuki SX4 1.6L Petrol · RO12 YNT

A pattern of recurring suspension, brake, and electrical defects defines the MOT history of this 2012 Suzuki SX4, with the most recent test on 19 September 2025 recording a pass but flagging light oil misting on both rear shock absorbers alongside an inoperative rear registration plate lamp. Across seven recorded tests, the vehicle has failed twice, most recently on 17 September 2025 when both front headlamps presented with obviously incorrect beam aim and insecure mounting, and both front position lamps were inoperative. The earlier failure on 19 September 2023 included a fractured nearside front coil spring, multiple lighting defects affecting the reversing lamp, offside rear indicator, and both stop lamps, alongside the recurring rear shock absorber oil misting that has now persisted across three consecutive tests. Advisories have accumulated steadily, with front suspension arm pin or bush wear noted in 2022 and again in 2023, brake binding at the nearside rear caliper flagged in 2021 and 2023, and brake disc wear and pitting recorded at both the front in 2022 and the rear in 2024. The overall trend shows no clear improvement, with the 2025 test demonstrating that lighting and rear suspension deterioration remain unresolved despite their previous identification. With 123,079 miles recorded over approximately fourteen years, this SX4 has averaged around 8,791 miles annually, which sits within the typical range for a vehicle of this age. MOT tests have been conducted at largely annual intervals from 2021 through 2025, with no extended gaps suggesting prolonged off-road storage, so the recorded mileage and test frequency are reasonably consistent with regular year-round use. That level of annual mileage, sustained over more than a decade, places considerable cumulative demand on suspension components, brake friction materials and discs, tyres, and the clutch or automatic gearbox internals depending on specification, all of which is reflected in the recurring component wear noted during testing. The mileage itself does not present anomalies, but it does mean that the advisories and failures are likely to reflect genuine wear rather than underuse or storage-related deterioration. A prospective buyer should focus on the suspension and braking components that have attracted repeated advisories. The rear shock absorbers have shown oil misting at every test since 2023, and on a road test the vehicle should be evaluated for any pitching, float, or reduced damping control over undulating surfaces, with particular attention to clunking noises from the rear when traversing speed humps or broken tarmac. The front suspension arm pins or bushes were flagged in both 2022 and 2023, so the front end should be inspected for knocking or vagueness through bends, uneven tyre wear indicating geometry disturbance, and any excess vertical movement when the body is pressed down by hand at the front corners. Brake pedal feel should be assessed for any rear binding symptom, as the nearside rear caliper has been noted twice, potentially producing uneven pulling under light braking or a dragging sensation when the vehicle is free-wheeling. The 2024 advisory regarding rear brake disc pitting should prompt a visual inspection of disc surface condition and a check for brake shudder or pulsation through the pedal under firm stopping. Electrical integrity is the other priority area given the cluster of lighting failures. Both 2023 and 2025 produced multiple failed lamps, including stop lamps, reversing lamp, direction indicator, position lamps, and headlamp aim and security issues, suggesting possible loom wear, connector corrosion, or earthing faults rather than isolated bulb failures. During inspection, every exterior lamp should be verified to operate correctly with ignition and main beam selected, and the headlamp securing brackets should be physically checked for tightness behind the front bumper. Front tyre wear should also be examined closely, as near-limit tread and cracking have been recorded on more than one occasion, and any uneven shoulder wear could be consistent with the suspension bush play previously identified. Taken on its own MOT record alone, this SX4 has demonstrated a track record of passable roadworthiness but with persistent advisories across suspension, braking, and lighting that warrant deliberate pre-purchase checks rather than reliance on the test pass alone.