MOT fail rates by first-use year
2012 Suzuki Swift MOT fail rate and common faults
How Suzuki Swift cars first used in 2012 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 36,577 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 13 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 13 years old, Suzuki Swift cars first used in 2012 failed 35.3% of MOTs (8,905 tests), 2.9 points below the 38.3% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 10 to 13 years old, the fail rate moved from 29.8% to 35.3%.
- Suzuki Swift cars first used a year earlier, in 2011, failed 37.0% at the same age of 13 years (6,319 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Suzuki Swift at 13 years, is rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded, at 3.9 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 0.9).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 10 years | 29.8% | 9,299 | 30.3% | −0.5 pts |
| 2023 | 11 years | 32.0% | 9,252 | 33.3% | −1.2 pts |
| 2024 | 12 years | 33.2% | 9,121 | 36.0% | −2.8 pts |
| 2025 | 13 years | 35.3% | 8,905 | 38.3% | −2.9 pts |
Most common faults at 13 years
These figures cover all Suzuki Swift MOTs at 13 years: cars first used 2009 to 2012, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=29,737). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Side/position light not working Wear | 7.7 | 4.8 |
| Brake light not working Wear | 6.6 | 3.1 |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | 3.9 | 0.9 |
| Suspension ball joint worn | 3.9 | 2.5 |
| Handbrake too weak | 3.4 | 1.7 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 3.4 | 2.1 |
| Coil spring broken | 3.3 | 4.1 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 3.1 | 3.0 |
| Service brake performance: excessively binding | 2.5 | 1.1 |
| Suspension arm bush worn | 2.5 | 2.0 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=29,737). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 22.7 | 5.1 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 15.6 | 18.2 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 13.4 | 8.0 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 11.8 | 9.1 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 8.7 | 10.6 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear | 6.4 | 5.2 |
| Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s) | 6.4 | 2.1 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 4.7 | 7.3 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 4.2 | 5.6 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 4.1 | 7.2 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=29,737). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 13 years
These figures cover all Suzuki Swift MOTs at 13 years: cars first used 2009 to 2012, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=29,737). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 94.8% | 39.3% | 28,184 | 37.7% | 78,430 miles |
| Diesel | 5.2% | 45.4% | 1,549 | 39.1% | 95,949 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 13 years
These figures cover all Suzuki Swift MOTs at 13 years: cars first used 2009 to 2012, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=29,737). At 13 years, Suzuki Swift cars at 120,000 to 150,000 miles failed more often (50.1%, n=2,403) than those at under 30,000 miles (20.0%, n=1,142). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30,000 miles | 20.0% | 1,142 | 18.6% |
| 30,000 to 60,000 miles | 29.4% | 6,493 | 29.1% |
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 40.5% | 11,177 | 38.0% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 46.3% | 7,806 | 42.2% |
| 120,000 to 150,000 miles | 50.1% | 2,403 | 43.2% |
Car tax rules for a 2012 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- Hybrids follow the Euro standard of their petrol or diesel engine.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Suzuki Swift
Other Suzuki models first used in 2012
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Alto (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 35.1% | 4,444 | 38.3% |
| Suzuki Splash (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 36.1% | 3,592 | 38.3% |
| Suzuki SX4 (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 40.5% | 1,905 | 38.3% |
| Suzuki Grand Vitara (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 31.6% | 1,059 | 38.3% |
More on the Suzuki Swift
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2012 Suzuki Swift cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.