2016 Suzuki Vitara 1.6L Petrol · CE16 VBV

A repeated pattern of front brake and front tyre wear has defined the roadworthiness record of this 2016 Suzuki Vitara, with the most recent test on 11 April 2026 returning a pass only because an immediate prior test the day before had been rejected on dangerous grounds. That 10 April 2026 failure is significant: all four tyres were below the legal 1.6 mm tread threshold, the offside rear tyre was also flagged with an advisory for edge wear, and the front brake pads were recorded at less than 1.5 mm thick, well under the 1.5 mm service limit. The presence of edge wear on the nearside front tyre is not a new finding either, as identical advisories were issued in 2022, 2024, and on the failed 2026 test, pointing to a persistent geometry or suspension issue that has been allowed to recur. The two cleanest entries, 2021 and 2023, sit either side of these advisories, confirming the pattern is consistent rather than a one-off. Mileage accumulation on this Vitara stands at 77,539 miles across ten years, giving an annual average of around 7,750 miles, which is broadly typical for a car of this age and class. The MOT cadence has been annual and uninterrupted, with no extended off-road gaps, so the recorded wear is consistent with regular use rather than long periods of standing followed by heavy running. The mileage progression between tests also appears steady, suggesting a vehicle that has been used consistently for mixed duties rather than predominantly motorway or city work. This regularity is relevant to the wear pattern observed, as consistent urban or A-road use with frequent braking is exactly the duty cycle that produces accelerated front pad and front tyre wear. For a prospective buyer, the immediate priority is a physical inspection of the braking and suspension hardware, given the dangerous pad finding and the repeated edge-wear advisories on the nearside front. The front brake calipers, sliders, and pads should be examined for binding or uneven retraction, as a stuck slider will drag one pad down to metal prematurely and is a common cause of the type of asymmetric wear recorded here. The discs should be checked for lipping, scoring, and minimum thickness, as pads run to backing plate invariably damage the disc surface. A test drive should focus on straight-line stability under braking, any pulling to one side which would indicate a seizing caliper, and the feel through the steering for vagueness or vibration that can accompany worn front suspension components. The recurring nearside front tyre edge wear strongly suggests the suspension geometry has drifted out of specification, and a buyer should have the wheel alignment checked and inspect the front suspension arms, anti-roll bar drop links, and bushes for any play or perishing. Knock or shimmy from the front end over speed humps and uneven roads, or any clonking on full lock, would indicate worn linkages that have not yet been flagged on an MOT. The offside rear tyre has also been flagged twice, so the rear axle alignment and rear bush condition should be assessed too. Finally, the 2024 stop lamp failure and advisory history should prompt a quick functional check of all exterior bulbs, including the high-level third brake light, before purchase, as electrical faults of this type can recur intermittently and are often a sign of a fatigued switch or connector.