Diesel Suzuki Vitara: MOT pass rate

83.2% of diesel Suzuki Vitaras pass the MOT first time, measured across 4,443 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 72,416.

Diesel against the other Suzuki Vitara versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Suzuki Vitara specifically, petrol is the strongest at 89.5%, and this diesel version sits 5.8 points below the 89% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Suzuki Vitara fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Suzuki Vitara had covered 72,416 miles at test, against 47,772 for the petrol. That is a shade above the middle of the range, still ordinary wear rather than a red flag, but worth checking against the service book for the car's age.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Suzuki Vitara page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Suzuki Vitara

1. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 2.6% of tests (2.41x the national rate for this defect)
2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 5.2% of tests (1.64x the national rate for this defect)
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.5% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this defect)
4. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.8% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this defect)
5. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.1% of tests
6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.7% of tests
7. A tyre seriously damaged, 1.4% of tests
8. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.3% of tests
9. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.2% of tests
10. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1.1% of tests

From 4,456 DVSA-tracked diesel Suzuki Vitara tests, 2024, split out from the Suzuki Vitara's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 6.23% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Suzuki Vitara

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing, loose or worn smooth, 1.4% of tests (7.14x the national rate for this defect)
2. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 4.3% of tests (2.17x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 12.6% of tests (2.04x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 35.9% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 12.3% of tests (1.31x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 12.8% of tests
7. A tyre seriously damaged, 7.1% of tests, also fails
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.4% of tests
9. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2.9% of tests
10. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 2.6% of tests

From 4,456 DVSA-tracked diesel Suzuki Vitara tests, 2024.

Other Suzuki Vitara fuel types

• Petrol Suzuki Vitara - 89.5%

All Suzuki Vitara MOT data · Every model