Suzuki Vitara MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 53,615 class-4 normal initial MOT tests in 2024, 83.9% passed without an initial fail or PRS repair — above the 71.2% UK average. Pass rate moves with age: 90% of cars aged 3–5 years passed first time, against 57.3% aged 15–30 years.
Checking a Suzuki Vitara?
Model-level statistics cannot reveal the condition or provenance of one car.
Check its registration free for the actual MOT, tax and mileage record. Before buying, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.
Pass rate by vehicle age
| Age | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 13,567 | 90% |
| 6–9 years | 38,692 | 82.7% |
| 15–30 years | 1,273 | 57.3% |
Common initial failure categories
These are the items that most often caused a Suzuki Vitara to fail its first test, with what each one usually means for a buyer.
- Tread Depth — 3.3% of tests. Tyres below the 1.6mm legal limit. Budget for tyres, and treat it as a sign of how the car was maintained.
- Position Lamps — 2.4% of tests. A side or tail light out. Usually a bulb.
- Stop Lamp — 2.3% of tests. A brake light out. Usually a bulb.
- Wipers — 2.1% of tests. Worn wiper blades. Minutes to fix, and a fair hint that servicing was skipped.
- Mechanical Brake Components — 2% of tests. Worn discs, pads or callipers. Routine wear, but it should be priced into the deal.
- Brake Performance — 1.4% of tests. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
What this does and does not tell you
A pass rate describes how a population of cars behaved on test day. It says nothing about how one car was driven, serviced or repaired, and an MOT does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox at all.
Use it to know what to look for: if tyres and brakes dominate the list, price those in; if corrosion or suspension appears, get underneath the car. Then check the individual vehicle — its MOT history shows whether these same items have been advised year after year, and its mileage record shows whether the reading is consistent.
How many Suzuki Vitara are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 83,489 licensed and 6,274 SORN vehicles in the Suzuki Vitara generic-model group.
Licensed and SORN trend for the Suzuki Vitara
Before you buy
- Tread Depth — 3.3% of tests in 2024. Tyres below the 1.6mm legal limit. Budget for tyres, and treat it as a sign of how the car was maintained.
- Position Lamps — 2.4% of tests in 2024. A side or tail light out. Usually a bulb.
- Stop Lamp — 2.3% of tests in 2024. A brake light out. Usually a bulb.
- Wipers — 2.1% of tests in 2024. Worn wiper blades. Minutes to fix, and a fair hint that servicing was skipped.
- Check the actual Vitara — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.
Other Suzuki models
- Suzuki Swift — 70.3% pass
- Suzuki Alto — 65.5% pass
- Suzuki SX4 — 71% pass
- Suzuki Celerio — 84.6% pass
- Suzuki Jimny — 68.8% pass
- Suzuki Grand Vitara — 62.1% pass
See every Suzuki model MOT pass rate
Common questions
What is the Suzuki Vitara MOT pass rate?
83.9% of 53,615 class-4 initial MOT tests on the Suzuki Vitara passed first time in 2024 — above the 71.2% UK average.
Why does the Vitara fail its MOT?
The most common initial failure categories are tread depth (3.3% of tests), position lamps (2.4% of tests), stop lamp (2.3% of tests), wipers (2.1% of tests).
How many Suzuki Vitara are left in the UK?
83,489 were licensed and 6,274 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.
Does this tell me whether one particular Vitara is a good buy?
No. These are population statistics. Enter that car's registration for its own MOT, tax and mileage record, then check outstanding finance, write-off and stolen markers before buying.
Methodology and limitations
MOT outcomes describe testable items at the time of inspection. They are not a measure of overall mechanical reliability.
Scope: Class 4 normal initial MOT tests completed in 2024. Models require at least 1,000 qualifying tests. Duplicate source rows are removed using official DVSA test IDs.
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published 2025-05-23 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check the actual car
Enter the registration for that car's own free MOT, tax and mileage record. Before money changes hands, the £9.99 full history check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-off and stolen checks.