2015 Suzuki Grand Vitara — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Suzuki Grand Vitara passed 90.8% of its 281 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (15.7% fail rate), the 2015 Grand Vitara comes out 6.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.0%) and brakes (4.3%) 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 tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 12 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2015 Grand Vitara fails 8.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.7% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 14 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.3% | 12 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.6% | 10 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.9% | 8 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 2 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 12 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 7 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 6 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 5 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 4 |
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 | 29.5% | 83 |
| 2 | Tyres | 14.9% | 42 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.3% | 15 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 13 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 13 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.3% | 12 |
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 | 35 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 142 | 7.8% |
| 60-90k | 65 | 7.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 234 | 8.6% |
| Diesel | 47 | 12.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 58 | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 58 | 8.6% |
| 2023 | 55 | 9.1% |
| 2024 | 58 | 12.1% |
| 2025 | 52 | 11.5% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Grand Vitara
On a 2015 Grand Vitara, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.3% 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 (3.6% 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 2015 Suzuki Grand Vitaras pass their MOT?
90.8% of the 281 2015 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by brakes (4.3%).
Does the 2015 Grand Vitara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 7.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 281 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.