2012 Suzuki Swift — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 54,923 MOT tests, the 2012 Suzuki Swift recorded an 82.3% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (22.6% fail rate), the 2012 Swift comes out 4.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.1% of all tests — 6.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and stop lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 4,010 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.6% versus 7.5%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.8pp more often than petrol ones (23.1% vs 17.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 33.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 7,744 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.9% | 4,350 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.4% | 2,973 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.9% | 2,711 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.4% | 2,435 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 798 |
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 | 4,010 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 3,522 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 3,467 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,902 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,869 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,747 |
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 | 33.1% | 18,153 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.5% | 14,533 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.0% | 9,867 |
| 4 | Other defects | 14.0% | 7,692 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 4,746 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 3,053 |
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 | 3,051 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 16,139 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 21,172 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 10,753 | 22.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,977 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 827 | 26.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 51,152 | 17.3% |
| Diesel | 3,771 | 23.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,971 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 10,991 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 11,080 | 17.6% |
| 2024 | 11,009 | 19.0% |
| 2025 | 10,872 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Swift
On a 2012 Swift, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.9% 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.
- Visibility (5.4% 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.
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 2012 Suzuki Swifts pass their MOT?
82.3% of the 54,923 2012 Suzuki Swift MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Suzuki Swift?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by brakes (7.9%).
Does the 2012 Swift get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 26.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 54,923 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.