2015 Fiat Swift — MOT failures & pass rate
636 MOT tests on the 2015 Fiat Swift are in this dataset, and 91.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 16.6% of the time, so this is 8.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, seat belts & restraints and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.3%) and seat belts & restraints (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are srs malfunction indicator lamp, outline marker lamp and headlamp aim — srs malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 21 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 8.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 40 |
| 2 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.3% | 21 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.0% | 13 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.3% | 8 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 5 |
| 6 | Tyres | 0.6% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 21 |
| 2 | Outline marker lamp | 16 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 4 | Wipers | 9 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 8 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 7 |
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 | 8.5% | 54 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.4% | 28 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 24 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.4% | 15 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.3% | 8 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.1% | 7 |
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 | 499 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 126 | 9.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 116 | 6.0% |
| 2022 | 126 | 5.6% |
| 2023 | 129 | 8.5% |
| 2024 | 129 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 136 | 11.0% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Swift
On a 2015 Swift, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Seat belts & restraints (3.3% of tests): Belt damage or faulty pretensioners — usually straightforward but safety-critical. Typical repair: £50–£300.
- Visibility (2.0% 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 2015 Fiat Swifts pass their MOT?
91.5% of the 636 2015 Fiat Swift MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Fiat Swift?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by seat belts & restraints (3.3%).
Does the 2015 Swift get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 9.5% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 636 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.