Used car guide

2009 Suzuki Swift: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 Suzuki Swifts, from 6,280 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

6,280MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)
5,500typical miles a year
3.6×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 Suzuki Swifts than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Rigid brake pipes3.6× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    26.8% All 2009 cars
    7.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 1.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.6× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    18.2% All 2009 cars
    11.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 2.3% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Ball joint2× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    13.4% All 2009 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.8%, against 3.4% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes7.8× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    7% All 2009 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.1% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Braking performance2× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    12.7% All 2009 cars
    6.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.9%, against 2.4% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 5% here, against 10.4% of all 2009 cars. Drive shaft (CV) joints: 2.2% here, against 5.3% of all 2009 cars.

By area

The share of 2009 Suzuki Swift MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    56% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    49% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    33% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    30% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    10% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Suzuki Swift?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20224,599Tyres 15%
20217,493Tyres 21%
20208,007Tyres 29%
201910,941Tyres 29%
201810,113Tyres 29%
20178,075Tyres 29%
201610,410Tyres 28%
201512,360Brakes 30%
201410,088Brakes 33%
20138,706Brakes 35%
20128,862Brakes 40%
20116,073Brakes 44%
20105,707Suspension 50%
20086,479Suspension 58%
20076,036Suspension 59%
20063,344Suspension 60%
20051,095Suspension 63%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2009 Suzuki Swifts registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score