Used car guide

2016 Suzuki Vitara: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Suzuki Vitaras, from 10,919 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

10,919MOT tests in 2025
79%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
7,100typical miles a year
3.2×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Suzuki Vitaras than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Rigid brake pipes3.2× usual
    Suzuki Vitara
    6% All 2016 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.2% of all 2016 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.

  • Sidelights3.1× usual
    Suzuki Vitara
    4.4% All 2016 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 1.2% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Braking performance1.9× usual
    Suzuki Vitara
    4.7% All 2016 cars
    2.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.8% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Pedal10× usual
    Suzuki Vitara
    2% All 2016 cars
    0.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.1% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

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

  • Ball joint dust cover1.8× usual
    Suzuki Vitara
    3% All 2016 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.6% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 0.9% here, against 6.1% of all 2016 cars. Shock absorbers: 1% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Suzuki Vitara MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    28% 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.

  • Brakes
    27% 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
    13% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    10% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Suzuki Vitara?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20226,197Tyres 15%
20216,328Tyres 18%
20205,171Tyres 23%
201912,737Tyres 25%
201812,019Tyres 27%
201711,416Tyres 27%
20155,571Brakes 28%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 Suzuki Vitaras registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score