Used car guide · 2001–2008

Suzuki Liana common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Suzuki Liana, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 3,588 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 2008 Suzuki Liana

Too few Suzuki Liana cars first registered in 2008 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Suzuki Liana as a whole.

13on the UK register at the end of 2025
Petrolfuel type
What to check on a 2008 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20082007200620052004200320022001

What usually goes wrong with a Suzuki Liana?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Suzuki Liana in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Suzuki Liana MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Corroded fuel pipes

    up to 11.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 3.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 3.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints

    up to 5.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Suzuki Liana MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2007 Suzuki Liana did best (55% passed first time, 2 points below all 2007 cars) and the 2005 did worst (49%, 8 points below all 2005 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200755%57% -2593
200653%56% -3556
200549%57% -8884
200454%57% -3819
200348%57% -9416 (small sample)
200253%58% -5320 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Suzuki Liana

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the corroded fuel pipes? (Flagged at MOT 11.8× as often on the Suzuki Liana as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 3.5× as often on the Suzuki Liana as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.2× as often on the Suzuki Liana as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Suzuki Liana?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score