2020 Suzuki Vitara — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 16,798 MOT tests, the 2020 Suzuki Vitara recorded a 95.0% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 7.9% of the time, so this is 2.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.7%) and visibility (2.6%) 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 512 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 Vitara fails 3.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 5.0% of the time against 5.1% for hybrid.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.5% of tests failed in 2022 against 5.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.7% | 448 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.6% | 444 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 317 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.2% | 209 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.1% | 26 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 512 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 344 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 260 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 150 |
| 5 | Washers | 75 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 56 |
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 | 16.3% | 2,734 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.0% | 1,347 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.1% | 1,024 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 528 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 107 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 82 |
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 | 10,151 | 3.3% |
| 30-60k | 5,959 | 7.4% |
| 60-90k | 632 | 10.4% |
| 90-120k | 48 | 6.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 8,404 | 5.0% |
| Hybrid | 8,394 | 5.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 255 | 3.5% |
| 2023 | 5,631 | 4.1% |
| 2024 | 5,448 | 5.4% |
| 2025 | 5,460 | 5.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Vitara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 2.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (2.7% 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 (2.6% 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 (1.9% 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 2020 Suzuki Vitaras pass their MOT?
95.0% of the 16,798 2020 Suzuki Vitara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Suzuki Vitara?
Tyres, recorded in 2.7% of tests, followed by visibility (2.6%).
Does the 2020 Vitara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.3% in the 0-30k band to 6.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,798 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.