Suzuki Swift
From 155,462 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Swifts fare better: 2020 models pass at 90.6% vs 63.8% for 2005.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a lamp missing and inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 6,642 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 6,642 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 5,050 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 3,833 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 3,329 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 2,896 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 2,570 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 2,492 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 2,356 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 2,346 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 2,187 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 55.1% of Swift failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 0% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £104.
The warranty question
A new Swift passes its MOT 90.6% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 81.6%, a 9 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 74.7%. With an average repair bill of £104 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a Swift that's past its third birthday.
Fuel type matters
Hybrid versions pass at 88.4% while Diesel versions pass at 66.3%, a 22 percentage point gap.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 90.6% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2019 | 88.5% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 86.9% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2017 | 85% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a tyre seriously damaged |
16 earlier years
| 2016 | 81.6% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2015 | 79% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2014 | 77.1% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2013 | 74.7% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2012 | 73.5% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2011 | 71% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2010 | 67.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2009 | 66% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2008 | 64.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2007 | 64% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2006 | 62.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2005 | 63.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2003 | 72% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2002 | 64.1% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. |
| 2001 | 69.3% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1999 | 66.4% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
Typical mileage
Half of all Swifts tested had between 68,694 and 120,237 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 96,729 median miles, the Swift has 0.025 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Suzuki models
| Suzuki Vitara | 85.6% |
| Suzuki Alto | 71.8% |
| Suzuki Sx4 | 76.6% |
| Suzuki Jimny | 74.9% |
| Suzuki Celerio | 86% |
Common questions
What is the Suzuki Swift MOT pass rate?
The Suzuki Swift has a 75.7% MOT pass rate based on 155,462 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Suzuki Swift?
The most common MOT failure on the Suzuki Swift is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 6,642 failures. Other common issues include brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded.
What is the typical mileage of a Suzuki Swift at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Suzuki Swift is 96,729 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 68,694 and 120,237 miles.
Buying a used Swift?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 75.7% pass rate and an average repair bill of £104 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.