1995 Suzuki Vitara — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 824 MOT tests analysed for the 1995 Suzuki Vitara, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes. Its pass rate of 70.8% was below the average for small SUVs of a similar age (72.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 36.4% in the 150k+ group versus 30.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 140 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.7% | 113 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.8% | 97 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.2% | 76 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 62 |
| 6 | Suspension | 7.2% | 59 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prescribed areas | 89 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 82 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 73 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 57 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 53 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 47 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 35.3% | 291 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.9% | 213 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.2% | 208 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.8% | 171 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.8% | 147 |
| 6 | Tyres | 15.5% | 128 |
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 | 59 | 30.5% |
| 30-60k | 112 | 25.9% |
| 60-90k | 241 | 34.4% |
| 90-120k | 271 | 24.3% |
| 120-150k | 104 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 33 | 36.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 200 | 28.0% |
| 2022 | 201 | 31.3% |
| 2023 | 164 | 30.5% |
| 2024 | 141 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 118 | 26.3% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Vitara
Before buying a 1995 Suzuki Vitara, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (17.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Brakes (11.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 1995 Suzuki Vitaras pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 824 1995 Suzuki Vitara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Suzuki Vitara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (13.7%).
Does the 1995 Vitara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.5% in the 0-30k band to 36.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 824 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.