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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara MOT fail rate and common faults

How Suzuki Grand Vitara cars first used in 2005 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 9,529 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 20 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 20 (n=1,806)41.4%
All cars at 20 years (n=1,845,952)42.8%
Difference−1.4 pts
MOT tests of 2005 cars, 2022 to 20259,529

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 20 years old, Suzuki Grand Vitara cars first used in 2005 failed 41.4% of MOTs (1,806 tests), 1.4 points below the 42.8% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 17 to 20 years old, the fail rate moved from 43.0% to 41.4%.
  • Suzuki Grand Vitara cars first used a year earlier, in 2004, failed 42.7% at the same age of 20 years (1,972 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Suzuki Grand Vitara at 20 years, is driveshaft CV boot split, at 9.7 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 3.1).

MOT fail rate by test year

Suzuki Grand Vitara cars first used in 2005: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
202217 years43.0%2,96343.1%−0.1 pts
202318 years43.9%2,56543.3%+0.7 pts
202419 years41.5%2,19543.2%−1.6 pts
202520 years41.4%1,80642.8%−1.4 pts

Most common faults at 20 years

These figures cover all Suzuki Grand Vitara MOTs at 20 years: cars first used 2002 to 2005, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=6,834). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Driveshaft CV boot split9.73.1
Side/position light not working Wear6.15.2
Wipers not clearing screen Wear3.83.4
Coil spring broken3.62.6
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength3.62.9
Engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault3.52.5
Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases3.22.2
Seat belt prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced3.21.0
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.02.5
Chassis condition: or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting2.30.5

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=6,834). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material17.615.2
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive17.614.1
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear12.415.7
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear10.710.2
Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated9.23.8
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases7.45.4
Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced7.01.9
Brake pads wearing thin Wear6.75.7
Coil spring: corroded6.28.0
Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement6.01.5

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=6,834). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 20 years

These figures cover all Suzuki Grand Vitara MOTs at 20 years: cars first used 2002 to 2005, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=6,834). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Petrol79.3%41.7%5,41442.5%93,958 miles
Diesel20.7%44.9%1,41243.6%116,724 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 20 years

These figures cover all Suzuki Grand Vitara MOTs at 20 years: cars first used 2002 to 2005, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=6,834). At 20 years, Suzuki Grand Vitara cars at 120,000 to 150,000 miles failed more often (47.3%, n=1,278) than those at 60,000 to 90,000 miles (38.7%, n=1,918). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
60,000 to 90,000 miles38.7%1,91841.3%
90,000 to 120,000 miles45.4%2,27145.5%
120,000 to 150,000 miles47.3%1,27847.2%

Car tax rules for a 2005 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Many petrol cars first registered from 2001 to 2005 already meet Euro 4, but not all of them. For a 2005 petrol car the Euro standard of that car decides.
  • Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2005 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Suzuki Grand Vitara

Other Suzuki models first used in 2005

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Suzuki Jimny (2005)20 years in 202539.1%1,55042.8%
Suzuki Swift (2005)20 years in 202550.7%1,09942.8%
Suzuki Wagon R+ (2005)20 years in 202540.5%1,07642.8%
Suzuki Ignis (2005)19 years in 202445.9%1,19643.2%
Suzuki Alto (2005)19 years in 202449.7%1,01643.2%

More on the Suzuki Grand Vitara

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.