Family SUV · 1998–2020 cars

Suzuki Grand Vitara reliability

The Suzuki Grand Vitara fails 37.4% of first MOT tests, 6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 80,112 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 55/100#34 of 59 family suvs

Checking a Suzuki Grand Vitara before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 37.4%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 6% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 80,112; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 6,300; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Suzuki Grand Vitara ages

Each point is the share of Suzuki Grand Vitaras of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Suzuki Grand VitaraAll cars

Suzuki Grand Vitara first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Suzuki Grand Vitara	All cars
7	14.8%	22.1%
8	17.2%	25.5%
9	18.4%	28.8%
10	23.7%	31.8%
11	27.7%	34.6%
12	30.8%	37.3%
13	32.6%	39.5%
14	36.7%	41.1%
15	40.4%	42.3%
16	41.9%	42.9%
17	43.8%	43.4%
18	42.4%	43.5%
19	43.3%	43.4%
20	43.6%	42.8%
21	41.2%	41.4%
22	41.5%	40.6%
23	40%	38.9%
24	38.9%	37.1%

By year

The best and worst Suzuki Grand Vitara years

2014 cars come out best and 2002 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2014 Grand Vitara	1,740	14.4%	39% fewer fails	49,531
2013 Grand Vitara	3,752	20.9%	23% fewer fails	58,520
2012 Grand Vitara	3,595	27%	12% fewer fails	67,550
2011 Grand Vitara	4,858	28.9%	16% fewer fails	75,265
2010 Grand Vitara	6,106	31%	16% fewer fails	79,309
2009 Grand Vitara	6,464	34.3%	13% fewer fails	86,331
2008 Grand Vitara	7,683	38.9%	6% fewer fails	90,680
2007 Grand Vitara	8,976	40.3%	4% fewer fails	93,101
2006 Grand Vitara	7,419	44%	2% more fails	96,020
2005 Grand Vitara	8,411	43%	0% more fails	94,450
2004 Grand Vitara	7,835	43.3%	0% fewer fails	98,645
2003 Grand Vitara	5,445	42%	3% fewer fails	99,595
2002 Grand Vitara	3,724	43.6%	3% more fails	99,556
2001 Grand Vitara	2,066	41.1%	0% fewer fails	100,081
2000	929	40.5%	1% more fails	96,436
1999	630	39.2%	2% more fails	102,816
1998	277	37.2%	2% fewer fails	110,701

Common problems

What fails most on a Suzuki Grand Vitara

Its weak spot is body, chassis and structure: 49% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics16.1%12% below avg
Suspension12.6%16% below avg
Brakes10.4%3% below avg
Body, chassis and structure10.3%49% above avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks6.5%14% above avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.9%10% below avg
Tyres3.8%44% below avg
Seat belts and airbags2.9%41% above avg
Steering0.9%73% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 5.25% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
CV joint boot split or insecure 3.6% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 3.31% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 3.03% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
5
Stop lamp not working 2.8% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
6
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 2.6% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
7
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 2.05% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
8
Exhaust has major gas leak 1.95% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Suzuki Grand Vitara's MOT certificate most often.

Brake pipes corroded and greasy15.3%
Tyre worn close to legal limit11.73%
Engine oil leak, not excessive10.48%
Brake disc pitted or scored8.21%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking6.77%
Brake pads wearing thin6.17%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Suzuki Grand Vitara

1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Suzuki Grand Vitara covers about 6,300 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Petrol73.9%
Diesel26%
LPG0.1%

Most common colours

Silver, Grey, Black, Blue, Red

Average engine size: 1.9 litres.

Compare

How the Suzuki Grand Vitara compares with its rivals

Suzuki Grand Vitara against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Lexus NX	9.2%	47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW X4	13%	32% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Skoda Kodiaq	11%	30% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Skoda Karoq	9.6%	30% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Suzuki Grand Vitara	37.4%	6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Vauxhall Antara	42.5%	33% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot 5008	33.1%	38% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every family suv ranked in the family suv reliability index, or all Suzuki models.

Questions

Suzuki Grand Vitara questions, answered

Is the Suzuki Grand Vitara reliable?

On MOT results, the Suzuki Grand Vitara is about average: it fails 37.4% of first MOT tests, 6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 34 of 59 family suv models in our index.

What fails most on a Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Suzuki Grand Vitara are position lamp not working (5.25% of tests), cv joint boot split or insecure (3.6% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (3.31% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 16.1% of its tests.

Which Suzuki Grand Vitara year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2014 cars do best (39% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2002 cars do worst (3% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Suzuki Grand Vitara do a year?

A typical Suzuki Grand Vitara covers about 6,300 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Suzuki Grand Vitara before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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