2011 Suzuki Swift — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 39,652 MOT tests, the 2011 Suzuki Swift recorded a 79.4% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (23.9% fail rate), the 2011 Swift comes out 3.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests against 8.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and stop lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 2,849 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.3% in the 0-30k band and 28.5% in the 150k+ band, a 18.3-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.5% fail against 22.2% for diesel, a 1.7-point gap across 39,647 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 5,674 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.9% | 3,530 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.6% | 3,000 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.9% | 2,335 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.8% | 1,904 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 697 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,849 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,758 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 2,494 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,353 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,314 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,296 |
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 | 36.7% | 14,555 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.6% | 10,559 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.6% | 8,548 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.1% | 7,160 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 3,376 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 2,015 |
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 | 1,547 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 9,719 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 15,447 | 20.8% |
| 90-120k | 9,447 | 24.7% |
| 120-150k | 2,807 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 676 | 28.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 38,099 | 20.5% |
| Diesel | 1,548 | 22.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,068 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 8,025 | 19.3% |
| 2023 | 8,023 | 20.5% |
| 2024 | 7,891 | 21.8% |
| 2025 | 7,645 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Swift
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.9% 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 (7.6% 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 2011 Suzuki Swifts pass their MOT?
79.4% of the 39,652 2011 Suzuki Swift MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Suzuki Swift?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by brakes (8.9%).
Does the 2011 Swift get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 28.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 39,652 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.