2017 Suzuki Vitara — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 62,919 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Suzuki Vitara, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility. Its pass rate of 90.7% was above the average for small SUVs of a similar age (88.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 17.0% in the 150k+ group versus 5.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 3,812 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.7% | 2,982 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.0% | 1,920 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.7% | 1,703 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 371 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.3% | 155 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 3,233 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 1,927 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,873 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,457 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,067 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 992 |
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 | 21.9% | 13,751 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.8% | 11,166 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.4% | 5,296 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 2,168 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.9% | 1,220 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 827 |
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 | 17,276 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 32,290 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 11,038 | 13.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,973 | 16.6% |
| 120-150k | 289 | 20.1% |
| 150k+ | 53 | 17.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 57,274 | 9.0% |
| Diesel | 5,645 | 11.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,328 | 6.9% |
| 2022 | 12,559 | 8.3% |
| 2023 | 12,675 | 9.7% |
| 2024 | 12,612 | 10.3% |
| 2025 | 12,745 | 11.2% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Vitara
Before buying a 2017 Suzuki Vitara, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 6.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (6.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.7% 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 (3.0% 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.
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 2017 Suzuki Vitaras pass their MOT?
90.7% of the 62,919 2017 Suzuki Vitara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Suzuki Vitara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by tyres (4.7%).
Does the 2017 Vitara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 17.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 62,919 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.