Suzuki Swace Sz5 Hev MOT pass rate & common failures
1,744 MOT tests on the Suzuki Swace Sz5 Hev (2020–2023) give it a 94.3% pass rate. That is 2.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 8.5%. Its most common failure areas are visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (3.3%) and tyres (2.9%) 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 tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 53 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Swace Sz5 Hev fails 3.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 3.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 1.9% of tests failed in 2023 against 5.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Swace Sz5 Hev model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 220 | 96.8% | 3.2% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 892 | 93.7% | 6.3% | Visibility |
| 2022 | 623 | 94.4% | 5.6% | Visibility |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.3% | 57 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.9% | 50 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 31 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.3% | 6 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 5 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 2 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.1% | 1 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 0.1% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 53 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 20 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 20 |
| 4 | Washers | 12 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 6 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 4 |
| 7 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 4 |
| 8 | Service brake performance | 3 |
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 | 19.5% | 340 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.7% | 151 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.7% | 99 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 65 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 8 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 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 | 913 | 3.5% |
| 30-60k | 640 | 7.8% |
| 60-90k | 150 | 10.0% |
| 90-120k | 30 | 3.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 103 | 1.9% |
| 2024 | 545 | 6.1% |
| 2025 | 1,085 | 5.9% |
What to check before buying a Suzuki Swace Sz5 Hev
- Visibility (3.3% 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.
- Tyres (2.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki Swace Sz5 Hev?
94.3% of the 1,744 Suzuki Swace Sz5 Hev MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 5.7% fail rate, across model years 2020–2023.
What does the Suzuki Swace Sz5 Hev most often fail its MOT on?
Visibility, recorded in 3.3% of tests, then tyres (2.9%).
How much does mileage affect Swace Sz5 Hev MOT results?
Fail rates run at 3.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 3.3% for 90-120k, a 0.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,744 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.