1998 Suzuki Grand Vitara — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 494 MOT tests, the 1998 Suzuki Grand Vitara recorded a 72.9% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 28.4% of the time, so this is 1.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 14.2% of tests against 10.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — joints alone was recorded 39 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 32.0% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.5% in 2021 to 26.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.2% | 70 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.3% | 51 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 50 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.9% | 44 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 23 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.3% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 39 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 35 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 30 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 25 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 23 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 21 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 40.7% | 201 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.0% | 173 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.5% | 146 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 28.7% | 142 |
| 5 | Tyres | 20.2% | 100 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 19.2% | 95 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 34 | 14.7% |
| 60-90k | 78 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 169 | 28.4% |
| 120-150k | 130 | 30.0% |
| 150k+ | 78 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 415 | 27.7% |
| Diesel | 79 | 24.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 166 | 29.5% |
| 2022 | 116 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 91 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 65 | 21.5% |
| 2025 | 56 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Grand Vitara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: body, structure & corrosion accounted for 14.2% of tests. Start there.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Brakes (10.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1998 Suzuki Grand Vitaras pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 494 1998 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 14.2% of tests, followed by brakes (10.3%).
Does the 1998 Grand Vitara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.7% in the 30-60k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 494 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.