2019 Suzuki Swift — MOT failures & pass rate
47,782 MOT tests on the 2019 Suzuki Swift are in this dataset, and 93.2% of them passed. That is 3.1 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 10.0%. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.2%) and tyres (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 2,220 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.5% versus 4.9%.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 6.8% of the time against 6.8% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.2% | 2,007 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.0% | 1,451 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 1,261 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.8% | 862 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 363 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 55 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,220 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 944 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 610 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 544 |
| 5 | Washers | 359 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 336 |
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 | 22.1% | 10,580 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.6% | 5,998 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.7% | 2,233 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 1,769 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.8% | 878 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 309 |
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 | 29,150 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 16,093 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,237 | 12.2% |
| 90-120k | 255 | 16.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 39,611 | 6.8% |
| Hybrid | 8,171 | 6.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 482 | 5.0% |
| 2022 | 11,915 | 4.5% |
| 2023 | 11,863 | 6.4% |
| 2024 | 11,660 | 7.9% |
| 2025 | 11,862 | 8.6% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Swift
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 4.2% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (4.2% 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.
- Tyres (3.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2019 Suzuki Swifts pass their MOT?
93.2% of the 47,782 2019 Suzuki Swift MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Suzuki Swift?
Visibility, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by tyres (3.0%).
Does the 2019 Swift get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 16.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 47,782 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.