2005 Suzuki Swift — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,176 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Suzuki Swift, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 68.4% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (71.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 34.2% in the 150k+ group versus 20.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 21.0% | 2,343 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 1,719 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.2% | 1,586 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.9% | 660 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.7% | 631 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 589 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 804 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 756 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 685 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 632 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 594 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 561 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 46.9% | 5,242 |
| 2 | Brakes | 37.5% | 4,187 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.9% | 3,231 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 1,861 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.8% | 1,426 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.7% | 1,414 |
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 | 175 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,255 | 26.9% |
| 60-90k | 3,467 | 31.3% |
| 90-120k | 4,107 | 32.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,780 | 35.1% |
| 150k+ | 377 | 34.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,947 | 31.6% |
| Diesel | 229 | 31.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,056 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 2,627 | 31.9% |
| 2023 | 2,202 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 1,825 | 31.9% |
| 2025 | 1,466 | 32.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Swift
Before buying a 2005 Suzuki Swift, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 21.0% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (21.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.2% 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.
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 2005 Suzuki Swifts pass their MOT?
68.4% of the 11,176 2005 Suzuki Swift MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Suzuki Swift?
Suspension, recorded in 21.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.4%).
Does the 2005 Swift get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 0-30k band to 34.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,176 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.