2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara passed 71.9% of its 10,819 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (28.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (14.2%) and lighting & signalling (12.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 928 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.0% versus 23.8%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.6% fail against 29.9% for diesel, a 2.3-point gap across 10,819 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.4% 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% | 1,538 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 1,317 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.9% | 1,287 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.2% | 997 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 770 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 548 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 928 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 594 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 589 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 558 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 555 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 533 |
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 | 35.2% | 3,810 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.2% | 3,480 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.6% | 3,205 |
| 4 | Tyres | 23.3% | 2,515 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 19.6% | 2,117 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 1,815 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 172 | 23.8% |
| 30-60k | 976 | 21.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,987 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 3,608 | 29.2% |
| 120-150k | 2,171 | 31.1% |
| 150k+ | 805 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 8,606 | 27.6% |
| Diesel | 2,213 | 29.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,113 | 29.4% |
| 2022 | 2,526 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 2,087 | 27.5% |
| 2024 | 1,717 | 28.3% |
| 2025 | 1,376 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 2003 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitaras pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 10,819 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 14.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.2%).
Does the 2003 Grand Vitara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.8% in the 0-30k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,819 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.