Suzuki Vitara: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Suzuki Vitara passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 11.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 57,357 individual Suzuki Vitara tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate88.6%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+11.9 points
Tests analysed57,357
Average mileage at test48,678 miles
Average year of manufacture2017
Reliability rank909 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 88.6% first-time pass rate means roughly 11 in every 100 Suzuki Vitaras presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Suzuki Vitara tested had covered 48,678 miles and was built around 2017.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Suzuki Vitara sits 11.9 points above the national average, ranked 909 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

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 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 Vitaras at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Suzuki Vitara

  1. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 4.5% of tests (1.4x the national rate for this defect)
  2. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.7% of tests
  3. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1.6% of tests
  4. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.1% of tests
  5. A tyre seriously damaged, 1.1% of tests
  6. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.1% of tests
  7. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 0.8% of tests
  8. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 0.7% of tests
  9. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 0.5% of tests
  10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.5% of tests

From 57,306 DVSA-tracked Suzuki Vitara tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 6.62% of these flagged Suzuki 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 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 Vitara before it actually fails on it.

  1. Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing, loose or worn smooth, 1.1% of tests (5.77x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.3% of tests (1.64x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 29.8% of tests, also fails
  4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 10.7% of tests, also fails
  5. A tyre seriously damaged, 9.3% of tests, also fails
  6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 7.9% of tests
  7. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 4.1% of tests, also fails
  8. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3% of tests
  9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.3% of tests
  10. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 1.3% of tests

From 57,306 DVSA-tracked Suzuki Vitara tests, 2024.

Suzuki Vitara pass rate by model year

From its 2015 to its 2020 model year, the Suzuki Vitara's first-time pass rate has risen 8.2 points, from 86% to 94.2%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Suzuki Vitara year:

Suzuki Vitara by fuel type

The Suzuki Vitara's two most-tested fuel types split by 6.3 points: petrol passes first time 89.5% of the time (52,678 tests) against 83.2% for diesel (4,443 tests).

Other Suzuki models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Suzuki Vitara MOT pass rate badge: 88.6%

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Suzuki Vitara most common MOT failure: Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (4.5% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate