Suzuki Vitara Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Suzuki Vitara car check
Is the Suzuki Vitara reliable? We analysed 810,456 real MOT tests across 108,223 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Suzuki Vitara? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Suzuki Vitara is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded and suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Suzuki Vitara.
Suzuki Vitara Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Suzuki Vitara. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Suzuki Vitara MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Suzuki Vitara to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Suzuki Vitara Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Suzuki Vitara fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Suzuki Vitara Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Suzuki Vitara models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Suzuki Vitara Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Suzuki Vitara owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Suzuki Vitara MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Suzuki Vitara year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 72 | 93.1% | 21,047 | 31,462 | 40,892 |
| 2020 | 9,993 | 91.9% | 16,578 | 25,824 | 37,167 |
| 2019 | 62,194 | 90.4% | 19,757 | 29,724 | 42,639 |
| 2018 | 74,263 | 87.8% | 22,595 | 34,135 | 48,756 |
| 2017 | 86,694 | 86.9% | 25,631 | 38,656 | 55,350 |
| 2016 | 93,570 | 86.7% | 28,739 | 43,162 | 61,728 |
| 2015 | 53,118 | 86.6% | 30,173 | 45,910 | 66,414 |
| 2012 | 415 | 83.4% | 37,856 | 57,002 | 80,204 |
| 2011 | 650 | 80.5% | 41,460 | 62,954 | 86,712 |
| 2010 | 450 | 81.6% | 33,200 | 56,413 | 78,420 |
| 2009 | 1,206 | 78.1% | 40,067 | 65,822 | 93,975 |
| 2008 | 1,608 | 78.2% | 42,714 | 63,924 | 85,318 |
| 2007 | 1,653 | 78.0% | 43,402 | 67,114 | 90,473 |
| 2006 | 1,635 | 76.6% | 43,454 | 70,371 | 94,830 |
| 2005 | 3,197 | 75.6% | 42,861 | 65,318 | 92,392 |
| 2004 | 6,031 | 77.2% | 43,570 | 66,554 | 93,378 |
| 2003 | 6,670 | 76.4% | 43,099 | 65,896 | 90,961 |
| 2002 | 9,784 | 73.7% | 46,778 | 68,061 | 90,703 |
| 2001 | 9,563 | 71.9% | 51,383 | 71,636 | 95,215 |
| 2000 | 25,655 | 68.9% | 45,292 | 62,541 | 82,640 |
How Long Does a Suzuki Vitara Last?
Based on 108,223 Suzuki Vitara vehicles on UK roads.
Suzuki Vitara Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Suzuki Vitara MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Suzuki Vitara
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
93.1% MOT pass rate from 72 tests
61.1% MOT pass rate from 3,132 tests
The best year to buy a used Suzuki Vitara is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.1% across 72 tests. The 1989 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Suzuki Vitara Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Vitara THIS CAR | 76.3% | 810,456 | 53,809 mi | 36 yrs |
| Suzuki Swift | 76.1% | 2,247,517 | 51,601 mi | 31 yrs |
| Suzuki Alto | 74% | 1,154,186 | 41,167 mi | 28 yrs |
| Suzuki Grand Vitara | 76.2% | 1,025,634 | 67,542 mi | 28 yrs |
| Volkswagen Fox | 72.8% | 688,416 | 52,767 mi | 20 yrs |
Compared to the Suzuki Swift (76.1% pass rate) and the Suzuki Alto (74.0% pass rate), the Suzuki Vitara outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Suzuki Vitara you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Suzuki VitaraShould you buy a used Suzuki Vitara?
The Suzuki Vitara has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.3% across 810,456 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Suzuki Vitara are brake pipe excessively corroded (34,457 recorded failures), seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (32,446), and suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (24,368). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Suzuki Vitara with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Suzuki Vitara owner drives around 5,330 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Suzuki Vitara models stay on UK roads for around 36 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.