Suzuki Swift Sport — MOT pass rate & failures
The Suzuki Swift Sport recorded a 93.3% MOT pass rate across 3,492 tests in this dataset (model years 2018–2023), with tyres, visibility and brakes its most common failure areas. Its 6.7% fail rate is lower than the 17.5% average across all Suzuki Swift versions.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,288 | 92.9% | 7.1% |
| 2021 | 1,247 | 92.9% | 7.1% |
| 2022 | 932 | 94.3% | 5.7% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.4% | 117 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.2% | 111 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.5% | 52 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 44 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 20 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 8 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 4 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.1% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 121 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 61 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 26 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 18 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 15 |
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 | 17.2% | 599 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 482 |
| 3 | Road wheels | 4.3% | 150 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.1% | 142 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 112 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.8% | 96 |
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 | 2,564 | 5.1% |
| 30-60k | 868 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 53 | 11.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 427 | 4.2% |
| 2024 | 1,069 | 6.3% |
| 2025 | 1,992 | 7.5% |
What to check before buying a Suzuki Swift Sport
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (3.4% 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 (3.2% 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.
- Brakes (1.5% 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 reliable is the Suzuki Swift Sport at MOT time?
93.3% of the 3,492 Suzuki Swift Sport MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.7% fail rate, better than the 17.5% average across all Swift versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Suzuki Swift Sport?
Tyres, recorded in 3.4% of tests, followed by visibility (3.2%).
Does the Swift Sport get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.1% in the 0-30k band to 11.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,492 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-06. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.