Used car guide

2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitaras, from 1,549 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,549MOT tests in 2025
64%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)
5,700typical miles a year
2.9×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitaras than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.9× usual
    Suzuki Grand Vitara
    22% All 2009 cars
    7.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 1.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Transmission oil leaks6.1× usual
    Suzuki Grand Vitara
    7.9% All 2009 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings3× usual
    Suzuki Grand Vitara
    9.4% All 2009 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 1.4% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Sub-frame1.8× usual
    Suzuki Grand Vitara
    13.8% All 2009 cars
    7.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.4% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Corroded fuel pipes6.5× usual
    Suzuki Grand Vitara
    3.9% All 2009 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Better than most

Coil springs: 2.5% here, against 12.4% of all 2009 cars. Number plates: 1.5% here, against 5.3% of all 2009 cars.

By area

The share of 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    43% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    40% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    31% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    25% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    24% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Rust and bodywork
    14% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Looking at a Suzuki Grand Vitara?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2014500Brakes 30%
20131,111Brakes 34%
20121,052Brakes 39%
20111,343Brakes 39%
20101,590Brakes 39%
20081,767Suspension 47%
20071,859Suspension 50%
20061,490Suspension 52%
20051,801Suspension 43%
20041,638Suspension 42%
20031,097Suspension 40%
2002735Brakes 42%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitaras registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score