2013 Suzuki Grand Vitara — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Suzuki Grand Vitara passed 86.9% of its 6,548 recorded MOT tests. That is 7.1 percentage points better than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 20.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.5%) and brakes (6.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, wipers and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 252 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.5% in the 0-30k band and 28.0% in the 150k+ band, a 20.5-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 6.6pp more often than petrol ones (18.0% vs 11.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 558 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.3% | 409 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.4% | 223 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.0% | 195 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.0% | 130 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 49 |
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 | 252 |
| 2 | Wipers | 218 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 184 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 169 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 121 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 111 |
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 | 29.3% | 1,920 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.9% | 1,171 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.5% | 689 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 498 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.5% | 491 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 300 |
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 | 707 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,632 | 9.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,185 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 789 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 185 | 24.3% |
| 150k+ | 50 | 28.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,828 | 11.4% |
| Diesel | 1,720 | 18.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,323 | 10.3% |
| 2022 | 1,311 | 11.8% |
| 2023 | 1,301 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 1,322 | 15.6% |
| 2025 | 1,291 | 15.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Grand Vitara
On a 2013 Grand Vitara, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.3% 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.
- Visibility (3.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2013 Suzuki Grand Vitaras pass their MOT?
86.9% of the 6,548 2013 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.5% of tests, followed by brakes (6.3%).
Does the 2013 Grand Vitara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 28.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,548 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.