Suzuki Ignis problems, reliability and years to avoid
If you are considering buying a used Suzuki Ignis, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 3 known faults for this model, 2 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Is the Suzuki Ignis reliable?
The Suzuki Ignis has 3 known faults in our database, 2 of them rated high severity. The most serious are gearbox (the automatic gearbox fitted to the 2001 to 2007 Ignis is described as prone to failure) and gearbox (the four-wheel-drive transmission can destroy itself if the car runs on different sized). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.
Which Suzuki Ignis years should you avoid?
No year is a write-off on its own. What matters is which serious faults a given year and engine can have, and whether the car in front of you has had them fixed.
Years and engines with a serious known fault
2001 to 2007, Automatic gearbox, all engines: the automatic gearbox fitted to the 2001 to 2007 Ignis is described as prone
2003 to 2007, Four-wheel-drive versions: the four-wheel-drive transmission can destroy itself if the car runs
Each one is set out in full below, with the symptoms, the typical mileage and a rough repair cost.
Generation 1 of 11 known fault · 5 owner reports · 2 good notes
Suzuki Ignis Mk3 (2017 to 2024) problems
Transmission/ClutchMedium severity💬 4 owner reports, 2018 to 2019
Clutches wear out or judder at very low mileages: a late 2018 car's clutch failed at 4,000 miles (£600), a March 2019 SZ3 was slipping and over-revving after upchanges at 10,000 miles, and a 2017 car juddered from the front when pulling away from cold from new until the dealer, after stripping it down, agreed to swap it for a Swift automatic. A 2018 car with the AGS automated manual was back at the dealer at 4,000 miles, probably for a new flywheel, with the dealer saying Suzuki knew of the issue.
Rough guide
£500-700
Typical symptoms
revs rising after a gearchange before the car picks up
judder pulling away from cold
sluggish response under load
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.2 Dualjet petrol, manual and AGS automated manual
Typical mileage:
4000-12000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners report on the Mk3
5 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Suspension and steering · April 2021A 2017 Suzuki Ignis with 24,000 miles failed its first MoT due to both front coil springs breaking at the top, costing £353 to replace.
Gearbox and clutch · February 2019An AGS automated manual transmission in a 2018 Suzuki Ignis with 4,000 miles experienced problems, requiring a new flywheel.
Suspension and steering · January 2019A 2017 Suzuki Ignis experienced rapid tyre wear on its Bridgestone Ecopia tyres by 10,500 miles, after the suspension was stiffened.
Gearbox and clutch · December 2018A 2017 Suzuki Ignis suffered front-end juddering when starting from cold since new, eventually leading to a vehicle exchange.
Electrics · May 2018The Pioneer satnav unit in a 2017 Suzuki Ignis repeatedly failed, freezing or not turning on, and was replaced with used units under warranty.
What owners like about the Mk3
2 notes
The Ignis achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating when equipped with the optional safety pack.
The Suzuki Ignis features a spare wheel well capable of accommodating a full-sized spare wheel.
Other years2 known faults · 3 good notes
Other Suzuki Ignis years: problems
Transmission/ClutchHigh severity📝 Editorial
The automatic gearbox fitted to the 2001 to 2007 Ignis is described as prone to failure, and a replacement gearbox costs £3,650. On the 2003 to 2007 car the automatic came with two-wheel drive only.
Rough guide
£3650
Typical symptoms
revs flaring or slipping during gear changes
delayed or jerky engagement when Drive or Reverse is selected
Affected vehicles
Engines:
Automatic gearbox, all engines
Typical mileage:
unknown miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Transmission/DrivetrainHigh severity📝 Editorial
The four-wheel-drive transmission can destroy itself if the car runs on different sized tyres front and rear. The mismatch confuses the system, which can then lock in four-wheel drive and the differential lock at speed on tarmac. A replacement transmission was quoted at £3,450.
Rough guide
£3450
Typical symptoms
tight, binding feel or tyre scrub on slow tight turns
tyres of different sizes or very different wear front and rear
Affected vehicles
Engines:
Four-wheel-drive versions
Typical mileage:
unknown miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners like
3 notes
The Ignis offers a higher than average ride height, which can be advantageous for drivers.
The high and flat load deck is a practical feature, particularly suiting older drivers.
The car's eight inches of ground clearance proves beneficial in rural settings and elevates the seating position, aiding older occupants.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 7 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Suzuki Ignis advert and we check it in seconds.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: November 2026
Suzuki Ignis buying questions
What are the most common Suzuki Ignis problems?
Three stand out. Gearbox: the automatic gearbox fitted to the 2001 to 2007 Ignis is described as prone to failure. Gearbox: the four-wheel-drive transmission can destroy itself if the car runs on different sized tyres front. Gearbox: clutches wear out or judder at very low mileages (typically 4000 to 12000 miles). The full list above is grouped by generation, with typical mileage and a rough repair cost for each.
What should I check when viewing a used Suzuki Ignis?
Ask the seller about the gearbox faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for revs flaring or slipping during gear changes, tight, binding feel or tyre scrub on slow tight turns and revs rising after a gearchange before the car picks up. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against all 3 known faults before you travel. Check a Suzuki Ignis advert →
What is the real MPG of a Suzuki Ignis?
Owners report 52.8 mpg on average across the Suzuki Ignis engines with data, about 99% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 179 owner submissions. Suzuki Ignis Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Suzuki Ignis owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Suzuki Ignis goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.