Suzuki Swift Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Suzuki Swift car check
Is the Suzuki Swift reliable? We analysed 2,247,517 real MOT tests across 189,488 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Suzuki Swift? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Suzuki Swift is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Suzuki Swift.
Suzuki Swift Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Suzuki Swift. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Suzuki Swift MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Suzuki Swift to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Suzuki Swift Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Suzuki Swift fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Suzuki Swift Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Suzuki Swift models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Suzuki Swift Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Suzuki Swift owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Suzuki Swift MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Suzuki Swift year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 114 | 78.1% | 31,763 | 45,956 | 68,590 |
| 2020 | 5,082 | 90.7% | 14,860 | 23,154 | 34,049 |
| 2019 | 54,391 | 89.2% | 17,192 | 26,516 | 38,878 |
| 2018 | 62,142 | 87.6% | 19,506 | 30,330 | 44,462 |
| 2017 | 60,908 | 86.9% | 21,104 | 32,661 | 48,206 |
| 2016 | 91,939 | 84.7% | 24,032 | 37,191 | 54,526 |
| 2015 | 124,833 | 83.9% | 26,135 | 40,601 | 59,372 |
| 2014 | 115,712 | 82.7% | 27,495 | 43,487 | 64,429 |
| 2013 | 113,907 | 81.3% | 30,665 | 48,266 | 70,274 |
| 2012 | 133,463 | 80.0% | 33,304 | 52,964 | 76,598 |
| 2011 | 105,219 | 78.2% | 35,077 | 55,912 | 80,049 |
| 2010 | 121,820 | 75.5% | 35,233 | 56,761 | 80,890 |
| 2009 | 166,589 | 73.9% | 36,072 | 57,936 | 82,752 |
| 2008 | 217,491 | 72.6% | 38,717 | 61,317 | 86,371 |
| 2007 | 256,147 | 72.5% | 39,180 | 62,096 | 86,891 |
| 2006 | 185,050 | 71.3% | 40,384 | 64,078 | 89,743 |
| 2005 | 80,914 | 70.5% | 40,735 | 64,757 | 90,321 |
| 2003 | 23,322 | 72.6% | 26,541 | 43,066 | 62,560 |
| 2002 | 74,635 | 72.8% | 28,260 | 45,009 | 64,020 |
| 2001 | 52,752 | 71.6% | 32,600 | 49,285 | 67,212 |
How Long Does a Suzuki Swift Last?
Based on 189,488 Suzuki Swift vehicles on UK roads.
Suzuki Swift Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Suzuki Swift MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Suzuki Swift
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.7% MOT pass rate from 5,082 tests
60.1% MOT pass rate from 1,866 tests
The best year to buy a used Suzuki Swift is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.7% across 5,082 tests. The 1992 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Suzuki Swift Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Swift THIS CAR | 76.1% | 2,247,517 | 51,601 mi | 31 yrs |
| Suzuki Alto | 74% | 1,154,186 | 41,167 mi | 28 yrs |
| Suzuki Grand Vitara | 76.2% | 1,025,634 | 67,542 mi | 28 yrs |
| Suzuki Vitara | 76.3% | 810,456 | 53,809 mi | 36 yrs |
| Mercedes-benz A-class | 77.6% | 4,204,702 | 57,023 mi | 28 yrs |
Compared to the Suzuki Alto (74.0% pass rate) and the Suzuki Grand Vitara (76.2% pass rate), the Suzuki Swift sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Suzuki Swift you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Suzuki SwiftShould you buy a used Suzuki Swift?
The Suzuki Swift has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.1% across 2,247,517 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Suzuki Swift are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (45,954 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (39,596), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (30,285). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Suzuki Swift with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Suzuki Swift owner drives around 5,184 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Suzuki Swift models stay on UK roads for around 31 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.