2018 Suzuki Vitara — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 65,970 MOT tests, the 2018 Suzuki Vitara recorded a 92.1% pass rate. That is 1.9 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 9.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.8%) and tyres (4.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and stop lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 2,682 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.8% versus 4.9%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.1pp more often than petrol ones (10.0% vs 7.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 3,178 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.1% | 2,722 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.1% | 2,032 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.2% | 1,423 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 235 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 116 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 2,682 |
| 2 | Wipers | 2,075 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,419 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,117 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,102 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 991 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.8% | 13,738 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 9,030 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.7% | 5,054 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 2,107 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 790 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 549 |
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 | 28,567 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 29,946 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 6,594 | 13.9% |
| 90-120k | 758 | 15.7% |
| 120-150k | 76 | 15.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 64,418 | 7.9% |
| Diesel | 1,552 | 10.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,377 | 5.9% |
| 2022 | 13,037 | 6.6% |
| 2023 | 13,221 | 8.1% |
| 2024 | 13,080 | 8.9% |
| 2025 | 13,255 | 10.1% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Vitara
On a 2018 Vitara, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (3.1% 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 2018 Suzuki Vitaras pass their MOT?
92.1% of the 65,970 2018 Suzuki Vitara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Suzuki Vitara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by tyres (4.1%).
Does the 2018 Vitara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 15.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 65,970 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.