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Suzuki Grand Vitara reliability by build year

Coverage 2005-20151 named generationSUVPETROL / DIESEL
At a glance

Suzuki Grand Vitara built around 2008: about average at the MOT

Suzuki Grand Vitaras built around 2008 fail their MOT about as often as similar cars the same age. An independent inspection matters more than the wider numbers on cars this old.

Check a Suzuki Grand Vitara by number plate

Key figure

31% of MOT tests on Suzuki Grand Vitaras built around 2008 ended in a fail (retests included), against 30% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Suzuki Grand Vitaras built around 2008 involves the suspension.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The Suzuki Grand Vitara's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Brake pipes and hoses

High priority

Look under the car for corrosion or chafing on the rigid brake pipes near the rear axle.

Suspension

Worth checking

Inspect the suspension carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Suspension

Worth checking

Inspect the suspension carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Grand Vitara's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

Grand Vitara JT (3rd gen)

JT (3rd gen) (2005-2015)

Not enough tests to rate
DIESELPETROL

14.9% fail rate, built around 2015 (10 years old)

Likely between 10.6% and 20.6%

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 4 MOTs, 22.8%)

From 194 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Pre

Older models (before 2005)

DIESELPETROL

29.6% fail rate, built around 2004 (21 years old)

Fails about as often as the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 31.1%)

From 1,946 MOT tests at this ageNo separate page

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the Suzuki Grand Vitara.

See every build year for the Suzuki Grand Vitara

Side-by-side

Suzuki Grand Vitara generations compared

Each generation is shown at 7 years old if it has at least 100 MOT tests at that age. If not, or if its cars are too new to be 7, it's shown at another age. We try ages close to 7 first. Newer generations have fewer years of data.

GenerationRatingFail rate
JT (3rd gen) (2005-2015)
No ratingNot enough tests to rate
No ratingNot enough tests to rate14.9%likely between 10.6% and 20.6%built around 2015 (10 years old)from 194 MOT tests at this age
Older models (before 2005)
No rating
No rating29.6%built around 2004 (21 years old)from 1,946 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the Grand Vitara, shown at the age printed under its fail rate. So rows can be different ages. Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail, retests included. A rating is given only when there are enough tests to place the fail rate in one rating band with 95% confidence.

By age

Suzuki Grand Vitara fail rate by age

This chart combines every Suzuki Grand Vitara ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
19414.9%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
90617.4%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
1,36821.1%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
1,53825.7%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
1,98827.4%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
2,10427.0%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
2,01529.5%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
2,63531.0%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
2,22732.1%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
2,15631.9%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
2,28030.7%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
1,94629.6%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
1,22731.3%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
76330.9%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
32829.6%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
32634.1%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 25+ years old.

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 17-year-old Suzuki Grand Vitaras

These issues come from 17-year-old Suzuki Grand Vitaras, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelEnough data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease

    22.8%
    Advisory: 961Fail: 127 (12% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    22.7%
    Advisory: 800Fail: 152 (16% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Suspension part corroded, but not seriously weakened

    20.0%
    Advisory: 1,031Fail: 64 (6% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    17.5%
    Advisory: 666Fail: 68 (9% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Oil leak, but not excessive

    16.8%
    Advisory: 456Fail: 4 (1% of the times it was found)

Based on 2,635 MOT tests on 17-year-old Suzuki Grand Vitaras, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 17-year-old Suzuki Grand Vitaras notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Brakes + Suspension36%
  2. Body & structure + Suspension33%
  3. Body & structure + Brakes28%
  4. Lighting + Suspension24%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 1,669 MOT tests on Suzuki Grand Vitara cars built around 2008 (17 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

Not enough registration data to show this for the Suzuki Grand Vitara.

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Recall context

13 recalls in all

8 of the 13 Suzuki Grand Vitara recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 4 Critical
  • 4 more

Top concerns

  • In the event of deployment the air bag may not inflate properly
  • Fire may occur
  • Risk of fire

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other SUVs to compare

Other SUVs to compare

  1. 1

    Lexus RX

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    23.7%

    Lower fail rate: 23.7%, against 31.0% for the Suzuki Grand Vitara, both built around 2008.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    2,568 MOT tests on cars built around 2008

  2. 2

    Audi Q7

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    22.9%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    8.1%
    Dangerous
    7.8%
    Still registered at 10 years
    90.6%

    Lower fail rate: 22.9%, against 31.0% for the Suzuki Grand Vitara, both built around 2008.

    2,771 MOT tests on cars built around 2008

  3. 3

    BMW X5

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    23%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    8.5%
    Dangerous
    6.3%
    Still registered at 10 years
    86.6%

    Lower fail rate: 23.0%, against 31.0% for the Suzuki Grand Vitara, both built around 2008.

    12 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    4,083 MOT tests on cars built around 2008

  4. 4

    Mercedes-Benz ML

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    25.4%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    9.5%
    Dangerous
    6.9%
    Still registered at 10 years
    88.1%

    Lower fail rate: 25.4%, against 31.0% for the Suzuki Grand Vitara, both built around 2008.

    2,547 MOT tests on cars built around 2008

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2008 (17 years old), the Suzuki Grand Vitara across all generations combined fails MOTs at about the rate typical for this age. This is based on 2,635 17-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Suzuki Grand Vitara ever sold: 24,001 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2008 (17 years old): 2,635 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.