In 2025, 116,096 Suzuki Swift cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 69% passed first time, compared with 69% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Swift about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 133 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 5 years old, 87% of Swifts passed first time (all cars that age: 86%). By 20 years, that figure is 49% (all cars: 58%). It starts out ahead of the average car but falls behind from around 15 years, which is worth knowing if you are buying an older one.
Suzuki Swift All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Swift passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years | 1,224 | 87% | 86% | 30,972 |
| 6 years | 10,947 | 87% | 84% | 38,080 |
| 7 years | 10,125 | 84% | 81% | 45,549 |
| 8 years | 8,065 | 80% | 78% | 50,236 |
| 9 years | 10,405 | 76% | 75% | 57,152 |
| 10 years | 12,334 | 74% | 72% | 63,233 |
| 11 years | 10,066 | 71% | 69% | 68,433 |
| 12 years | 8,696 | 68% | 66% | 75,131 |
| 13 years | 8,856 | 64% | 63% | 82,385 |
| 14 years | 6,065 | 61% | 61% | 86,122 |
| 15 years | 5,687 | 56% | 59% | 86,655 |
| 16 years | 6,265 | 54% | 58% | 88,979 |
| 17 years | 6,449 | 52% | 57% | 94,145 |
| 18 years | 6,000 | 51% | 57% | 94,161 |
| 19 years | 3,329 | 50% | 57% | 96,393 |
| 20 years | 1,083 | 49% | 58% | 95,910 |
What fails most on a Suzuki Swift
The area that lets the Swift down most, relative to other cars, is brakes: 16.6% of tests failed on it, 1.7 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on steering and body and structure.
Share of Swift tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 6.5% |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 5.7% |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 5.0% |
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | Brakes | 4.2% |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | Visibility | 4.1% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 3.4% |
What to check when buying a used Swift
Based on where the Swift fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Brakes: Look through the wheels for lipped or scored discs, check the handbrake holds on a slope, and feel for pulling or vibration under firm braking. Repair guide
- Visibility: Check the windscreen for chips in the driver’s view, the wipers for smearing and the washers for working jets. Repair guide
- Lights and electrics: Walk round with the lights on: headlights (dipped and main), indicators, brake lights, number-plate and fog lights. Bulbs are cheap, but a seller who hasn’t noticed one out may have missed more. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific Swift
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a SwiftFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Suzuki Swift?
In 2025, 69% of Suzuki Swift cars passed their MOT first time, across 116,096 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 69%.
What do Suzuki Swift cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (6.5% of tests); a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (5.7% of tests); stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (5.0% of tests).
Other Suzuki models
Suzuki Vitara (82%), Suzuki Alto (65%), Suzuki SX4 (69%), Suzuki Celerio (83%), Suzuki Jimny (69%), Suzuki Ignis (75%). All Suzuki models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.