2002 Suzuki Vitara — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Suzuki Vitara passed 69.3% of its 693 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.6 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 28.2%. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 16.0% of tests against 12.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, prescribed areas and position lamp — joints alone was recorded 60 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 33.3% versus 22.6%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.0% | 111 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 88 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 81 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.4% | 72 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 47 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.6% | 39 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 60 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 53 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 46 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 46 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 42 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 37 |
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 | 36.8% | 255 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.2% | 251 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 33.2% | 230 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.5% | 156 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.8% | 130 |
| 6 | Other defects | 18.3% | 127 |
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 | 62 | 22.6% |
| 60-90k | 189 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 274 | 33.2% |
| 120-150k | 112 | 32.1% |
| 150k+ | 39 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 551 | 31.4% |
| Diesel | 142 | 28.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 194 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 160 | 30.0% |
| 2023 | 139 | 32.4% |
| 2024 | 109 | 32.1% |
| 2025 | 91 | 33.0% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Vitara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: body, structure & corrosion accounted for 16.0% of tests. Start there.
- Body, structure & corrosion (16.0% 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+.
- Brakes (12.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2002 Suzuki Vitaras pass their MOT?
69.3% of the 693 2002 Suzuki Vitara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Suzuki Vitara?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 16.0% of tests, followed by brakes (12.7%).
Does the 2002 Vitara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.6% in the 30-60k band to 33.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 693 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.