Suzuki Grand Vitara: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Suzuki Grand Vitara fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 8.5 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 21,340 individual Suzuki Grand Vitara tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate68.2%
UK national average76.7%
Difference-8.5 points
Tests analysed21,340
Average mileage at test91,279 miles
Average year of manufacture2007
Reliability rank1,799 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 68.2% first-time pass rate means roughly 32 in every 100 Suzuki Grand Vitaras presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Suzuki Grand Vitara tested had covered 91,279 miles and was built around 2007.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Suzuki Grand Vitara sits 8.5 points below the national average, ranked 1,799 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Suzuki Grand Vitara rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Suzuki Grand Vitaras at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Suzuki Grand Vitara

  1. Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 3% of tests (13.08x the national rate for this defect)
  2. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.6% of tests (9.71x the national rate for this defect)
  3. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 6.1% of tests (6.5x the national rate for this defect)
  4. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 2.6% of tests (6.38x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 4.6% of tests (4.33x the national rate for this defect)
  6. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.3% of tests (3.22x the national rate for this defect)
  7. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4.7% of tests (3.06x the national rate for this defect)
  8. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 2.9% of tests (2.86x the national rate for this defect)
  9. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4.8% of tests (2.17x the national rate for this defect)
  10. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 3.5% of tests (1.86x the national rate for this defect)

From 21,325 DVSA-tracked Suzuki Grand Vitara tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.82% of these flagged Suzuki Grand Vitara defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Suzuki Grand Vitara

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Suzuki Grand Vitara before it actually fails on it.

  1. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 9.3% of tests (7.45x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  2. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 7.6% of tests (5.04x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  3. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 5.1% of tests (4.65x the national rate for this advisory)
  4. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 5.7% of tests (4.44x the national rate for this advisory)
  5. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 26.4% of tests (4.26x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  6. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 19.9% of tests (3.85x the national rate for this advisory)
  7. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 16.1% of tests (2.9x the national rate for this advisory)
  8. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 7.7% of tests (2.71x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  9. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 5.2% of tests (2.61x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 23.8% of tests (1.78x the national rate for this advisory)

From 21,325 DVSA-tracked Suzuki Grand Vitara tests, 2024.

Suzuki Grand Vitara pass rate by model year

From its 2001 to its 2014 model year, the Suzuki Grand Vitara's first-time pass rate has risen 24.5 points, from 64.9% to 89.4%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Suzuki Grand Vitara year:

Suzuki Grand Vitara by fuel type

The Suzuki Grand Vitara's two most-tested fuel types split by 4.4 points: petrol passes first time 70% of the time (15,755 tests) against 65.6% for diesel (5,348 tests).

Other Suzuki models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT pass rate badge: 68.2%

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Suzuki Grand Vitara most common MOT failure: Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point (3% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate