Used car guide · 1998–2015

Suzuki Grand Vitara common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Suzuki Grand Vitara, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 63,518 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

63,518MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
28,751on the UK register
2014best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

What usually goes wrong with a Suzuki Grand Vitara?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Suzuki Grand Vitara in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Chassis rust or damage

    up to 3.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

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

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    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.

  • Corroded fuel pipes

    up to 25× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    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.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 3.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 3.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Transmission oil leaks

    up to 9.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    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.

Diesel

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 8.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    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.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 3.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    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.

  • Chassis rust or damage

    up to 5.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

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

  • Sub-frame

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    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.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints

    up to 4.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2014 Suzuki Grand Vitara did best (83% passed first time, 13 points above all 2014 cars) and the 2006 did worst (56%, 0 points above all 2006 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201582%74% +8127 (small sample)
201483%70% +131,510
201378%67% +113,372
201270%64% +63,225
201168%62% +64,256
201067%60% +75,174
200965%59% +65,316
200860%57% +36,109
200759%57% +26,866
200656%56% +05,601
200557%57% +06,505
200457%57% +05,950
200359%57% +24,049
200258%58% +02,746
200161%60% +11,523
200060%61% -1652
199958%63% -5385 (small sample)
199862%65% -3152 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Suzuki Grand Vitara

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the chassis rust or damage? (Flagged at MOT 4× as often on the Suzuki Grand Vitara as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the Suzuki Grand Vitara as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 5.3× as often on the Suzuki Grand Vitara as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Suzuki Grand Vitara?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score