Used Suzuki Ignis Hatchback 2016-2025 reliability

When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.

It should come as no surprise that we haven’t heard of any major long-term issues to be concerned about with the Ignis yet. Hopefully, that will continue to be the case, but you should still check any car over to make sure everything works. Check, too, that the interior’s still in good condition – with the cheap materials and plain surfaces used throughout, the Ignis’s interior is easy to damage and mark, especially if it’s had heavy family use. In mild hybrid models, cycle through the information display on the dashboard to show the level of hybrid battery charge on your test drive, and make sure it’s still charging up as you slow down in traffic.

At the time of writing, there have been two recalls for the Ignis. To find out whether a car has been affected, you can contact your local Suzuki dealer. You will not need to pay for anything involving the recall.

Reason for recall

Due to incorrect software in the Engine Control Module (ECM) and ENG A-STOP (Engine Auto Stop Start System), the light may blink and the ENG A-STOP system may become inoperative. If the car is driven continuously in this condition the lead-acid battery will not be charged. In the worst case, there is a possibility that the lights will dim and the engine may stall and not restart due to low battery voltage.

How the manufacturer will repair: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and reprogramme the ECM with corrected software.

Number of affected vehicles: 6313

Date of recall: 13/03/2018

Reason for recall

Due to a lack of strength in the Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) belt, it may break during usage. If this happens the water pump will become inoperative and the charging light will illuminate. The coolant temperature warning light will also illuminate due to an increase in coolant temperature. In the worst case scenario, the engine may stall and not restart.

How the manufacturer will repair: On affected vehicles replace the ISG belt.

Number of affected vehicles: 2247

Date of recall: 26/03/2018

The Ignis didn't get enough responses to feature in the 2025 or 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey. However, it has historically done very well, finishing in first place out of 22 cars in the small SUV category in 2023.

Reliability rating in 2023: 99.4%

What went wrong? Gearbox/clutch 5%

Just 5% of the cars we were told in 2023 about had a failure. Although issues with the gearbox/clutch could be serious, they were resolved swiftly and cheaply: all cars were back on the road in less than a day and all remedial work was done for free.

As a brand, Suzuki did feature in the 2025 survey, finishing in an impressive third place out of 30 manufacturers. That places it above all of its rivals, other than Honda (1st) and Mini (2nd).

Suzuki Ignis reliability: the owners' view

In our reliability survey, owners said the Suzuki Ignis is a champion of dependability, consistently outperforming rivals in the small SUV class. The majority of owners reported a completely trouble-free experience, with many praising the car for its "bulletproof" nature.

When faults do occur, they are typically minor. We identified rare trends involving the infotainment system, with some early Pioneer-branded units suffering from freezing or failing to power on. Additionally, a small number of owners with the automatic gearbox noted a "judder" during cold starts.

The dealer network received high praise for its efficiency and fairness. Most repairs were completed within a single day, and an impressive number of readers reported that Suzuki covered the costs under warranty, ensuring that even when things went wrong, they weren't expensive to fix. Overall, it remains one of the most reliable used buys on the market.