Used car guide

2015 Suzuki Vitara diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Suzuki Vitara first registered in 2015 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 3,114 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,114MOTs of 2015 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
76%pass first time (all 2015 cars: 74%)
8,600typical miles a year
4.5×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2015 Suzuki Vitara diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2015 Suzuki Vitara diesel than on all cars registered in 2015.

  • Rigid brake pipes4.5× usual
    Suzuki Vitara
    9.5% All 2015 cars
    2.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.3% of all 2015 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.

  • Corroded fuel pipesnull× usual
    Suzuki Vitara
    2.4% All 2015 cars
    0%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2015 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.

  • Pedal7.7× usual
    Suzuki Vitara
    2.3% All 2015 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2015 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.

  • Sidelights2.1× usual
    Suzuki Vitara
    3.6% All 2015 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1.5% of all 2015 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.

  • Steering rack inner joints2.8× usual
    Suzuki Vitara
    2.2% All 2015 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2015 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.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1.6% here, against 5.9% of all 2015 cars. Shock absorbers: 1.3% here, against 4.6% of all 2015 cars.

Common 2015 Suzuki Vitara diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2015 Suzuki Vitara diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    32% 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.

  • Tyres
    29% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    15% 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
    11% 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
    7% 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.

Known faults on the 2015 Suzuki Vitara diesel

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2015 Suzuki Vitara diesel

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

  1. Has the rear axle bolt recall been done?
  2. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 4.5× as often on the 2015 Suzuki Vitara diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the corroded fuel pipes? (Flagged at MOT null× as often on the 2015 Suzuki Vitara diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the pedal? (Flagged at MOT 7.7× as often on the 2015 Suzuki Vitara diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Suzuki Vitara?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Suzuki Vitara compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023292Tyres 9%
20226,340Tyres 15%
202112,728Tyres 17%
202015,627Tyres 19%
201937,823Tyres 23%
201835,789Tyres 26%
201733,922Tyres 27%
201632,674Tyres 27%
2011103Brakes 40%
2009124Brakes 51%
2008153Suspension 41%
2007109Suspension 52%
2005211Suspension 36%
2004276Suspension 41%
2003194Brakes 45%
2002241Suspension 49%
2001130Brakes 38%
2000329Brakes 49%
1999566Brakes 50%
1998483Brakes 42%
1997252Brakes 38%
1996297Brakes 45%
1995345Brakes 44%
1994295Brakes 41%
1993169Brakes 43%
1992116Brakes 39%
1991–Too few tests
1990–Too few tests
1989–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Suzuki Vitara cars first registered in 2015. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score