2014 Suzuki Swift — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 58,415 MOT tests, the 2014 Suzuki Swift recorded an 86.2% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (19.5% fail rate), the 2014 Swift comes out 5.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.7% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and rigid brake pipes — position lamp alone was recorded 3,059 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.8% in the 0-30k band and 21.2% in the 150k+ band, a 14.4-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 6.9pp more often than petrol ones (20.5% vs 13.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 25.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 6,245 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.0% | 3,490 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.6% | 2,675 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.5% | 2,598 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.9% | 1,710 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 388 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 3,059 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 2,537 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,342 |
| 4 | Wipers | 2,183 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,658 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,060 |
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 | 25.6% | 14,940 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.1% | 14,659 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.4% | 6,637 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.3% | 4,241 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 4,214 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 2,364 |
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 | 7,775 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 25,462 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 18,017 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 5,747 | 20.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,105 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 307 | 21.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 56,788 | 13.6% |
| Diesel | 1,627 | 20.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,481 | 11.0% |
| 2022 | 11,497 | 11.8% |
| 2023 | 11,639 | 13.5% |
| 2024 | 11,831 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 11,967 | 16.8% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Swift
On a 2014 Swift, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.0% 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.
- Visibility (4.6% 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 2014 Suzuki Swifts pass their MOT?
86.2% of the 58,415 2014 Suzuki Swift MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Suzuki Swift?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by brakes (6.0%).
Does the 2014 Swift get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 58,415 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.