2016 Suzuki Swift MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 76.2% of Suzuki Swifts first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. Across 31,428 Swift first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, brakes and tyres.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Suzuki Swifts first used in 2016 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
76.2%
of 10,406 first tests; all cars first used in 2016: 74.9%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
31,428
first tests, 2023–2025; 10,406 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
40.5%
of 10,406 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
54,500
middle half: 39,000–72,000 miles; all cars first used in 2016: 67,500

How the 2016 Suzuki Swift MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Swifts first used in 2016 against all cars first used in 2016 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Swift figure was 1.3 points higher.

2016 SwiftAll cars first used in 2016
70%80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2016, test year 2021: 82.7%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2022: 80.9%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2023: 78.6%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2024: 76.7%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2025: 74.9%2016 Swift, test year 2021: 83.3%2016 Swift, test year 2022: 83.6%2016 Swift, test year 2023: 80.2%2016 Swift, test year 2024: 78.9%2016 Swift, test year 2025: 76.2%76.2%74.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year2016 SwiftAll cars first used 2016Swift first tests
202183.3%82.7%10,620
202283.6%80.9%10,551
202380.2%78.6%10,518
202478.9%76.7%10,504
202576.2%74.9%10,406

Common 2016 Suzuki Swift MOT failures

Share of the 6,776 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment47.7%
Brakes26.2%
Tyres24.2%
Visibility20.8%
Suspension10.4%
Body, chassis, structure2.2%
Noise, emissions and leaks2.1%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Position lamp: not working17.8%1,205
Stop lamp: not working15.7%1,066
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively13.0%883
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm9.0%613
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded6.0%405

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2016 Suzuki Swift before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
  3. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.

Common 2016 Suzuki Swift MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2016 Swifts, as a share of all 31,428 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing13.0%4,092
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge12.0%3,778
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material7.8%2,436
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened7.6%2,378
Brake pads: wearing thin5.8%1,829

Questions about the 2016 Suzuki Swift MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2016 Suzuki Swift?

In 2025, 76.2% of Swifts first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2016 Swift most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 47.7% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), brakes (26.2%) and tyres (24.2%). The single most common item was “Position lamp: not working” (17.8%).

How often does a 2016 Suzuki Swift fail its MOT?

In 2025, 23.8% of first tests on Swifts first used in 2016 did not pass first time: 15.4% failed, and a further 8.4% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 6,776 of 31,428 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2016 Suzuki Swift MOT advisories?

“Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (on 13.0% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (12.0%), “Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (7.8%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (7.6%) and “Brake pads: wearing thin” (5.8%).

Is a 2016 Suzuki Swift reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 83.3% in 2021 to 76.2% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2016

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2016 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2016 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2016 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2016 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2016 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics

How the 2016 Suzuki Swift MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2016 Swift” means a Suzuki Swift whose date of first use falls in 2016 (65, 16 and 66 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2016, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.