2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,091 MOT tests, the 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara recorded a 79.7% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 25.3% of the time, so this is 5.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests against 9.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, wipers and rigid brake pipes — position lamp alone was recorded 621 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.6% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.8% fail against 24.1% for diesel, a 5.3-point gap across 11,091 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 1,437 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.1% | 1,013 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.4% | 706 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 535 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.5% | 278 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 265 |
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 | 621 |
| 2 | Wipers | 463 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 438 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 432 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 362 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 286 |
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 | 33.8% | 3,743 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.4% | 2,378 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.0% | 2,107 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.3% | 1,812 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 1,096 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.6% | 1,061 |
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 | 353 | 10.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,218 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 4,472 | 19.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,946 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 855 | 25.3% |
| 150k+ | 238 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,899 | 18.8% |
| Diesel | 3,192 | 24.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,373 | 17.8% |
| 2022 | 2,348 | 18.2% |
| 2023 | 2,270 | 20.6% |
| 2024 | 2,131 | 22.3% |
| 2025 | 1,969 | 23.4% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Grand Vitara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.1% 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 (6.4% 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 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitaras pass their MOT?
79.7% of the 11,091 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by brakes (9.1%).
Does the 2010 Grand Vitara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.5% in the 0-30k band to 28.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,091 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.