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R397 VBU

1997 Suzuki Vitara

Silver Petrol 1590cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires31 May 2026
Tests27 (19 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate70.4%

Mileage

89,786 mi
Last recorded89,786 miles
Recorded on12 May 2026
Typical for 1997 Suzuki Vitara80,904 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Suzuki
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR397 VBU
MakeSuzuki
ModelVitara
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,590cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

19 pass 8 fail
Fail 12 May 2026 89,786 miles

Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded inner wheel arch area (1.1.21 (e) (i))

Nearside Front Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Nearside Front Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting inner sill (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Front Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Front Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting inner sill (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both rear and front to rear pipes (1.1.11 (c))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced both front inner wheel arches (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Pass 23 May 2025 86,566 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Wheel bearing has slight play both front (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 13 May 2025 86,537 miles

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength by coil spring (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Wheel bearing has slight play both front (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 31 May 2024 81,890 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Wheel bearing has slight play both front (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 16 May 2024 81,890 miles

Brake performance unable to be tested leaking system (1.2.1 (g))

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases rear section (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Front Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Brake hose leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.12 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Wheel bearing has slight play both front (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 1 Jun 2023 76,078 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Wheel bearing has slight play both front (5.1.3 (a) (i))

front exhaust heat shield insecure

Fail 17 May 2023 76,058 miles

Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength n/s/r arm mounting point (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength n/s/r sil to floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength o/s/r sil to floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Wheel bearing has slight play both front (5.1.3 (a) (i))

front exhaust heat shield insecure

Pass 25 May 2022 71,097 miles

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 21 May 2022 71,095 miles

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 14 May 2021 64,332 miles

Wheel bearing has slight play both front (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 23 May 2020 58,488 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases SILENCER (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 23 May 2020 58,488 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases SILENCER (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Lower Body panel corroded and likely to cause injury WING (6.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 3 May 2019 58,336 miles

Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both front inner wheel arch area's (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive cross member area (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both rear inner sill area's (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 13 Apr 2018 57,981 miles
Pass 20 Apr 2017 57,847 miles
Pass 9 May 2016 57,767 miles

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Fail 7 May 2016 57,767 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Front Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.4.A.2h)

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively both (8.2.2)

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Pass 20 Apr 2015 57,460 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 29 Mar 2014 57,059 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 8 Apr 2013 55,683 miles

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

exhaust silencer deteriorated

underside of bonnet badly corroded

Pass 12 Mar 2012 53,272 miles

radiator in poor condition

Fail 12 Mar 2012 53,272 miles

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Pass 10 Mar 2011 49,832 miles

Battery insecure

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 5 Mar 2010 46,356 miles

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment (2.5.A.1c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

corrosion throughout vehicle structure

o/s/f lower wishbone heavily corroded

Pass 20 Feb 2009 44,818 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

both front brake hose ferrules corroded.

Pass 11 Jul 2007 34,840 miles
Pass 6 Jul 2006 32,962 miles

How Reliable is the Suzuki Vitara?

Based on 810,456 MOT tests across 108,223 vehicles.

76.3%
Pass Rate
5,330
Miles/Year
36
Year Lifespan
108,223
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 34,457
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 32,446
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 24,368
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 22,812
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 15,882
Full Suzuki Vitara reliability report

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R397 VBU is a 1997 Suzuki Vitara in Silver with a 1,590cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70.4%.

Across all 1997 Suzuki Vitara models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.3% with a typical mileage of 80,904 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Suzuki Vitara fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 34,457 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R397 VBU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Suzuki Vitara typically stays on UK roads for around 36 years. At 29 years old, this Suzuki Vitara is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R397 VBU?

You can check the full history of R397 VBU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R397 VBU registered?

R397 VBU is a 1997 Suzuki Vitara, first registered on 30 September 1997.

Is R397 VBU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R397 VBU shows 27 tests with a 70.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R397 VBU have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on R397 VBU. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.