1998 Suzuki Vitara — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,216 MOT tests analysed for the 1998 Suzuki Vitara, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 71.4% was in line with the average for small SUVs of a similar age (71.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 35.3% in the 150k+ group versus 22.8% in the 30-60k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 205 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.5% | 164 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.9% | 157 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.6% | 117 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 104 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.8% | 83 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 125 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 121 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 115 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 74 |
| 5 | Wipers | 71 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 68 |
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 | 36.4% | 442 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.8% | 399 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.0% | 268 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.7% | 252 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.5% | 225 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.0% | 195 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 180 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 369 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 411 | 32.6% |
| 120-150k | 169 | 33.1% |
| 150k+ | 68 | 35.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,151 | 29.0% |
| Diesel | 65 | 21.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 348 | 31.3% |
| 2022 | 264 | 28.4% |
| 2023 | 239 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 195 | 25.1% |
| 2025 | 170 | 28.2% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Vitara
Before buying a 1998 Suzuki Vitara, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 16.9% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (16.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.9% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1998 Suzuki Vitaras pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 1,216 1998 Suzuki Vitara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Suzuki Vitara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.9% of tests, followed by brakes (13.5%).
Does the 1998 Vitara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.8% in the 30-60k band to 35.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,216 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.