2017 Suzuki Swift — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 44,590 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Suzuki Swift, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 90.4% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (86.7%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.7% | 2,091 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 1,782 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.7% | 1,640 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.2% | 1,439 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.4% | 1,075 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 105 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,137 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 860 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 736 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 646 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 630 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 532 |
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 | 24.5% | 10,917 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 7,329 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.4% | 2,404 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.7% | 1,635 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,552 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 888 |
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 | 17,490 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 20,709 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 5,306 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 919 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 130 | 18.5% |
| 150k+ | 31 | 9.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 37,250 | 9.6% |
| Hybrid | 7,340 | 10.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,731 | 6.7% |
| 2022 | 8,844 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | 8,932 | 9.9% |
| 2024 | 8,933 | 10.6% |
| 2025 | 9,150 | 12.8% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Swift
Before buying a 2017 Suzuki Swift, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 4.7% of tests for this year.
- Visibility (4.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.7% 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.
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 2017 Suzuki Swifts pass their MOT?
90.4% of the 44,590 2017 Suzuki Swift MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Suzuki Swift?
Visibility, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.0%).
Does the 2017 Swift get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 9.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 44,590 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.