2019 Suzuki Vitara — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Suzuki Vitara passed 93.7% of its 55,247 recorded MOT tests. Against small SUVs of a similar age (8.8% fail rate), the 2019 Vitara comes out 2.5pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.0%) and visibility (2.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 1,732 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.0% in the 0-30k band and 15.6% in the 120-150k band, a 11.6-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 7.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.0% | 1,659 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.9% | 1,619 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 1,455 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.8% | 990 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 175 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 157 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,732 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,535 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 995 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 799 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 519 |
| 6 | Washers | 356 |
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 | 18.8% | 10,410 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 6,796 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.0% | 3,885 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 1,901 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 543 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 337 |
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 | 29,501 | 4.0% |
| 30-60k | 22,262 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 3,135 | 11.9% |
| 90-120k | 306 | 15.4% |
| 120-150k | 32 | 15.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 561 | 4.8% |
| 2022 | 13,936 | 5.0% |
| 2023 | 13,743 | 6.1% |
| 2024 | 13,372 | 6.7% |
| 2025 | 13,635 | 7.5% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Vitara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.0% 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 (2.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.6% 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 2019 Suzuki Vitaras pass their MOT?
93.7% of the 55,247 2019 Suzuki Vitara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Suzuki Vitara?
Tyres, recorded in 3.0% of tests, followed by visibility (2.9%).
Does the 2019 Vitara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.0% in the 0-30k band to 15.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 55,247 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.