2005 Suzuki Vitara — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Suzuki Vitara passed 69.5% of its 555 recorded MOT tests. Against small SUVs of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), the 2005 Vitara comes out 2.4pp worse. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (14.8%) and suspension (13.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and coil spring — joints alone was recorded 50 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 38.1% versus 31.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.5% in 2021 to 27.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.8% | 82 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.3% | 74 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 65 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.6% | 48 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 37 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 30 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 50 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 41 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 36 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 30 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 28 |
| 6 | Wipers | 26 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 35.7% | 198 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.4% | 180 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.2% | 162 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.4% | 119 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.0% | 100 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 64 |
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 | 80 | 31.3% |
| 60-90k | 143 | 24.5% |
| 90-120k | 181 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 100 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 42 | 38.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 393 | 29.0% |
| Diesel | 162 | 34.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 151 | 32.5% |
| 2022 | 120 | 25.8% |
| 2023 | 115 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 100 | 34.0% |
| 2025 | 69 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Vitara
On a 2005 Vitara, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.8% 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+.
- Suspension (13.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- 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 2005 Suzuki Vitaras pass their MOT?
69.5% of the 555 2005 Suzuki Vitara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Suzuki Vitara?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by suspension (13.3%).
Does the 2005 Vitara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.3% in the 30-60k band to 38.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 555 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.