2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara — MOT failures & pass rate
11,844 MOT tests on the 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara are in this dataset, and 78.9% of them passed. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 2009 Grand Vitara comes out 5.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests against 8.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and rigid brake pipes — position lamp alone was recorded 710 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.8% versus 8.0%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 19.1% fail against 23.8% for diesel, a 4.7-point gap across 11,844 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 1,654 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.4% | 998 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.4% | 992 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 535 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 436 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 358 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 710 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 532 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 497 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 497 |
| 5 | Wipers | 454 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 431 |
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 | 35.3% | 4,181 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.2% | 3,459 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.0% | 2,369 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.6% | 2,317 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 1,256 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 1,154 |
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 | 212 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,849 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 4,451 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 3,602 | 23.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,379 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 338 | 27.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,797 | 19.1% |
| Diesel | 5,047 | 23.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,725 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 2,558 | 19.9% |
| 2023 | 2,428 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 2,227 | 23.6% |
| 2025 | 1,906 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Grand Vitara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.4% 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.
- Suspension (8.4% 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 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitaras pass their MOT?
78.9% of the 11,844 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by brakes (8.4%).
Does the 2009 Grand Vitara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 27.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,844 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.