2016 Suzuki Swift — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 58,522 MOT tests analysed for the 2016 Suzuki Swift, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility. Its pass rate of 89.3% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (84.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 22.5% in the 150k+ group versus 6.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 4,539 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.4% | 2,590 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.4% | 2,558 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.3% | 2,523 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 845 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 187 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,265 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,836 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,574 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,350 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,272 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,125 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.8% | 13,928 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.8% | 12,173 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.3% | 4,253 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.1% | 3,565 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 2,918 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 1,997 |
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 | 14,994 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 29,615 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 11,127 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,258 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 395 | 18.0% |
| 150k+ | 129 | 22.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,532 | 8.2% |
| 2022 | 11,558 | 8.9% |
| 2023 | 11,794 | 11.3% |
| 2024 | 11,733 | 11.8% |
| 2025 | 11,905 | 13.4% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Swift
Before buying a 2016 Suzuki Swift, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 7.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (7.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (4.4% 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 2016 Suzuki Swifts pass their MOT?
89.3% of the 58,522 2016 Suzuki Swift MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Suzuki Swift?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by tyres (4.4%).
Does the 2016 Swift get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 22.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 58,522 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.