2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 59.7% of Suzuki Grand Vitaras first used in 2003 passed their MOT first time, against 58.7% for all cars first used in 2003. Across 4,056 Grand Vitara first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were body, chassis and structure, lamps and electrical equipment and suspension.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Suzuki Grand Vitaras first used in 2003 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
59.7%
of 1,085 first tests; all cars first used in 2003: 58.7%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
4,056
first tests, 2023–2025; 1,085 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
17.9%
of 1,085 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
100,000
middle half: 77,500–125,500 miles; all cars first used in 2003: 103,000

How the 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Grand Vitaras first used in 2003 against all cars first used in 2003 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Grand Vitara figure was in line with the all-cars figure.

2003 Grand VitaraAll cars first used in 2003
50%60%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2003, test year 2021: 54%All cars first used in 2003, test year 2022: 55.7%All cars first used in 2003, test year 2023: 56.7%All cars first used in 2003, test year 2024: 57.2%All cars first used in 2003, test year 2025: 58.7%2003 Grand Vitara, test year 2021: 55%2003 Grand Vitara, test year 2022: 57.8%2003 Grand Vitara, test year 2023: 58.4%2003 Grand Vitara, test year 2024: 58.6%2003 Grand Vitara, test year 2025: 59.7%59.7%58.7%
View this chart as a table
Test year2003 Grand VitaraAll cars first used 2003Grand Vitara first tests
202155.0%54.0%2,358
202257.8%55.7%1,967
202358.4%56.7%1,632
202458.6%57.2%1,339
202559.7%58.7%1,085

Common 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT failures

Share of the 1,670 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Body, chassis, structure44.2%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment37.7%
Suspension35.7%
Brakes27.5%
Noise, emissions and leaks21.7%
Visibility15.7%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems11.0%
Tyres9.0%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt20.2%338
Position lamp: not working12.2%203
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively9.5%158
Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases8.9%148
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength8.7%145

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Body and underside. Worth looking underneath with a torch at the sills, floor and mountings for corrosion, and at the rubber boots on the drive shafts for splits.
  2. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  3. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.

Common 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2003 Grand Vitaras, as a share of all 4,056 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material19.7%799
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive17.9%725
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge11.5%467
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing11.0%447
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases7.3%297

Questions about the 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara?

In 2025, 59.7% of Grand Vitaras first used in 2003 passed their MOT first time, against 58.7% for all cars first used in 2003. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2003 Grand Vitara most often fail its MOT on?

Body, chassis and structure (in 44.2% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (37.7%) and suspension (35.7%). The single most common item was “Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” (20.2%).

How often does a 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara fail its MOT?

In 2025, 40.3% of first tests on Grand Vitaras first used in 2003 did not pass first time: 33.9% failed, and a further 6.4% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,670 of 4,056 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT advisories?

“Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (on 19.7% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (17.9%), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (11.5%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (11.0%) and “Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases” (7.3%).

Is a 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 55.0% in 2021 to 59.7% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2003

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2003 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2003 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2003 MINI Hatch MOT statistics · 2003 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2003 Toyota Yaris MOT statistics

How the 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2003 Grand Vitara” means a Suzuki Grand Vitara whose date of first use falls in 2003 (52, 03 and 53 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2003, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.