2021 Fiat Swift — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 968 MOT tests, the 2021 Fiat Swift recorded a 95.3% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 8.6% of the time, so this is 3.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.4%) and visibility (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and outline marker lamp — wipers alone was recorded 37 times.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 33 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.2% | 31 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 8 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.6% | 6 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 5 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 37 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 3 | Outline marker lamp | 9 |
| 4 | Washers | 7 |
| 5 | All outline marker lamps | 6 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 5 |
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 | 3.1% | 30 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.8% | 17 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.1% | 11 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.0% | 10 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 8 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 5 |
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 | 935 | 4.6% |
| 30-60k | 32 | 9.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 460 | 5.0% |
| 2025 | 484 | 4.5% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Swift
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 3.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.2% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (0.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2021 Fiat Swifts pass their MOT?
95.3% of the 968 2021 Fiat Swift MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Fiat Swift?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.4% of tests, followed by visibility (3.2%).
Does the 2021 Swift get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.6% in the 0-30k band to 9.4% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 968 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.