Used car guide · 1989–2026

Suzuki Vitara common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Suzuki Vitara, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 196,158 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1990 Suzuki Vitara

Too few Suzuki Vitara cars first registered in 1990 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Suzuki Vitara as a whole.

60on the UK register at the end of 2025
Petrolmost common fuel (also petrol hybrid)
What to check on a 1990 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

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).

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201120092008200720052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989

What usually goes wrong with a Suzuki Vitara?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Rear axle bolt recall (built Oct to Dec 2015)

    Cars registered 2015–2016 · Built Oct to Dec 2015

    Poor-quality rear axle bolts could work loose or break on cars built October to December 2015.

    At the viewing: Ask a Suzuki dealer to confirm the recall was done.

    Source: Auto Express: used Suzuki Vitara (Mk4, 2015 on) review

  • Cruise control software recall (built Jan to May 2015)

    Cars registered in 2015 · Built Jan to May 2015

    Adaptive cruise control could brake when it didn’t need to on cars built January to May 2015.

    At the viewing: Ask for proof the recall was done.

    Source: Auto Express: used Suzuki Vitara (Mk4, 2015 on) review

  • Paint and trim faults

    Cars registered 2015–2024 · All engines

    Paint and exterior trim make up a share of the faults owners report.

    At the viewing: Look over the paint and trim.

    Source: Auto Express: used Suzuki Vitara (Mk4, 2015 on) review

Common Suzuki 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

  • Sidelights

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015 and 2016.

    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.

  • Braking performance

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016 and 2017.

    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.

Diesel

  • Sidelights

    up to 6.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 5.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Steering rack inner joints

    up to 5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Brake lights

    up to 3.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016 and 2017.

    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 performance

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016 and 2017.

    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.

Suzuki Vitara MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2015 Suzuki Vitara did best (81% passed first time, 7 points above all 2015 cars) and the 2018 did worst (84%, 1 point above all 2018 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202395%92% +3292 (small sample)
202293%89% +46,340
202192%87% +512,728
202092%87% +515,627
201989%85% +437,823
201884%83% +135,789
201782%80% +233,922
201681%77% +432,674
201581%74% +716,570
201159%62% -3103 (small sample)
200967%59% +8124 (small sample)
200857%57% +0153 (small sample)
200759%57% +2109 (small sample)
200553%57% -4211 (small sample)
200459%57% +2276 (small sample)
200355%57% -2194 (small sample)
200251%58% -7241 (small sample)
200160%60% +0130 (small sample)
200054%61% -7329 (small sample)
199954%63% -9566
199862%65% -3483 (small sample)
199765%65% +0252 (small sample)
199660%66% -6297 (small sample)
199558%67% -9345 (small sample)
199459%67% -8295 (small sample)
199362%68% -6169 (small sample)
199261%69% -8116 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Suzuki Vitara

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 sidelights? (Flagged at MOT 4× as often on the Suzuki Vitara as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the brake lights? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the Suzuki Vitara as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the Suzuki Vitara 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, 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