2021 Suzuki Swift — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Suzuki Swift passed 94.9% of its 15,880 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.6 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 7.8%. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.5%) and tyres (2.0%) 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 brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 789 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 9.7% once past 90-120k — 2.4× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 2.5% of tests failed in 2023 against 6.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.5% | 714 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.0% | 322 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.3% | 202 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 202 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.2% | 29 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 789 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 158 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 149 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 94 |
| 5 | Washers | 93 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 32 |
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 | 15.7% | 2,485 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.8% | 1,561 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.7% | 582 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.7% | 581 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 112 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 104 |
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 | 12,027 | 4.1% |
| 30-60k | 3,511 | 8.3% |
| 60-90k | 301 | 9.6% |
| 90-120k | 31 | 9.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 15,747 | 5.1% |
| Petrol | 130 | 13.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 243 | 2.5% |
| 2024 | 7,713 | 4.3% |
| 2025 | 7,886 | 6.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Swift
On a 2021 Swift, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (4.5% 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 (2.0% 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.
- Brakes (1.3% 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.
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 2021 Suzuki Swifts pass their MOT?
94.9% of the 15,880 2021 Suzuki Swift MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Suzuki Swift?
Visibility, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by tyres (2.0%).
Does the 2021 Swift get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.1% in the 0-30k band to 9.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,880 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.