2009 Suzuki Swift — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Suzuki Swift passed 71.8% of its 50,182 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 26.1% of the time, so this is 2.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 17.1% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and service brake performance — ball joint alone was recorded 3,813 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.2% versus 16.4%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.6pp more often than petrol ones (30.7% vs 28.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.1% | 8,566 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.0% | 7,031 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 6,607 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.3% | 2,661 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.1% | 2,557 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 1,629 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 3,813 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 3,348 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 3,260 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 2,490 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,443 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 2,376 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 38.8% | 19,460 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.5% | 18,803 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.4% | 13,739 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.8% | 5,898 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 4,391 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 3,452 |
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 | 1,739 | 16.4% |
| 30-60k | 9,761 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 18,769 | 28.1% |
| 90-120k | 14,146 | 31.1% |
| 120-150k | 4,694 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,052 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 47,238 | 28.1% |
| Diesel | 2,944 | 30.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,220 | 27.3% |
| 2022 | 10,746 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 10,328 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 9,427 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 8,461 | 28.8% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Swift
On a 2009 Swift, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (17.1% 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.
- Brakes (14.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% 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
How many 2009 Suzuki Swifts pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 50,182 2009 Suzuki Swift MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Suzuki Swift?
Suspension, recorded in 17.1% of tests, followed by brakes (14.0%).
Does the 2009 Swift get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 50,182 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.