1998 Suzuki Swift — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 250 MOT tests, the 1998 Suzuki Swift recorded a 74.8% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (29.3% fail rate), the 1998 Swift comes out 4.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.4%) and brakes (12.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 41 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.6% versus 27.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.0% in 2021 to 18.9% in 2024, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 36 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.0% | 30 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.6% | 29 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 18 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.8% | 17 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 41 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 22 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 21 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 20 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 14 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 13 |
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 | 25.2% | 63 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.4% | 56 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.2% | 53 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.0% | 40 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.4% | 31 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.4% | 31 |
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 | 51 | 27.5% |
| 30-60k | 95 | 16.8% |
| 60-90k | 89 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 80 | 25.0% |
| 2022 | 55 | 23.6% |
| 2023 | 49 | 32.6% |
| 2024 | 37 | 18.9% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Swift
On a 1998 Swift, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (11.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 1998 Suzuki Swifts pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 250 1998 Suzuki Swift MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Suzuki Swift?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by brakes (12.0%).
Does the 1998 Swift get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.5% in the 0-30k band to 32.6% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 250 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.