2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 58.3% of Suzuki Grand Vitaras first used in 2005 passed their MOT first time, against 57.6% for all cars first used in 2005. Across 6,490 Grand Vitara first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were body, chassis and structure, suspension and lamps and electrical equipment.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Suzuki Grand Vitaras first used in 2005 (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
58.3%
of 1,792 first tests; all cars first used in 2005: 57.6%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
6,490
first tests, 2023–2025; 1,792 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
18.3%
of 1,792 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
96,500
middle half: 75,000–119,500 miles; all cars first used in 2005: 105,500

How the 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Grand Vitaras first used in 2005 against all cars first used in 2005 (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.

2005 Grand VitaraAll cars first used in 2005
50%60%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2005, test year 2021: 54.6%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2022: 55.7%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2023: 56.3%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2024: 56.5%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2025: 57.6%2005 Grand Vitara, test year 2021: 56.7%2005 Grand Vitara, test year 2022: 56.6%2005 Grand Vitara, test year 2023: 55.5%2005 Grand Vitara, test year 2024: 57.9%2005 Grand Vitara, test year 2025: 58.3%58.3%57.6%
View this chart as a table
Test year2005 Grand VitaraAll cars first used 2005Grand Vitara first tests
202156.7%54.6%3,331
202256.6%55.7%2,928
202355.5%56.3%2,534
202457.9%56.5%2,164
202558.3%57.6%1,792

Common 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT failures

Share of the 2,786 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, structure39.8%
Suspension39.1%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment33.3%
Brakes27.1%
Noise, emissions and leaks21.6%
Visibility13.8%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems9.3%
Tyres9.2%

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 dirt21.0%585
Position lamp: not working13.9%387
Coil spring: fractured or broken10.6%296
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction9.3%259
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength9.0%252

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

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Grand Vitara in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2005 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. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.

Common 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2005 Grand Vitaras, as a share of all 6,490 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material15.9%1,034
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive15.4%1,000
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge12.8%832
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing10.0%652
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases7.4%479

Questions about the 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara?

In 2025, 58.3% of Grand Vitaras first used in 2005 passed their MOT first time, against 57.6% for all cars first used in 2005. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2005 Grand Vitara most often fail its MOT on?

Body, chassis and structure (in 39.8% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (39.1%) and lamps and electrical equipment (33.3%). The single most common item was “Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” (21.0%).

How often does a 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara fail its MOT?

In 2025, 41.7% of first tests on Grand Vitaras first used in 2005 did not pass first time: 35.1% failed, and a further 6.6% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 2,786 of 6,490 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT advisories?

“Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (on 15.9% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (15.4%), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (12.8%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (10.0%) and “Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases” (7.4%).

Is a 2005 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 56.7% in 2021 to 58.3% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2005

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

2005 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2005 MINI Hatch MOT statistics · 2005 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2005 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2005 Toyota Yaris MOT statistics

How the 2005 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. “2005 Grand Vitara” means a Suzuki Grand Vitara whose date of first use falls in 2005 (54, 05 and 55 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 2005, 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. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. 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.