2014 Suzuki Grand Vitara — MOT failures & pass rate
2,835 MOT tests on the 2014 Suzuki Grand Vitara are in this dataset, and 90.6% of them passed. That is 8.6 percentage points better than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 17.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.5%) and brakes (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and position lamp — wipers alone was recorded 97 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.1% versus 6.1%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 8.8% fail against 11.5% for diesel, a 2.7-point gap across 2,835 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 157 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.9% | 111 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.6% | 101 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.0% | 57 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 41 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 97 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 62 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 52 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 44 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 44 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 42 |
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 | 27.2% | 772 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.0% | 511 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.5% | 214 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 163 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 130 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 526 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,281 | 7.6% |
| 60-90k | 771 | 12.6% |
| 90-120k | 220 | 14.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,271 | 8.8% |
| Diesel | 564 | 11.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 572 | 8.0% |
| 2022 | 573 | 7.5% |
| 2023 | 574 | 10.4% |
| 2024 | 558 | 9.7% |
| 2025 | 558 | 11.1% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Grand Vitara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.9% 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 (3.6% 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 2014 Suzuki Grand Vitaras pass their MOT?
90.6% of the 2,835 2014 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by brakes (3.9%).
Does the 2014 Grand Vitara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 14.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,835 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.