Used car guide

2016 Suzuki Swift: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Suzuki Swifts, from 10,410 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

10,410MOT tests in 2025
76%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
6,000typical miles a year
5.5×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Suzuki Swifts than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Rigid brake pipes5.5× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    10.4% All 2016 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.2% of all 2016 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.

  • Individual direction indicators7.2× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    4.3% All 2016 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.2% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.9× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    5% All 2016 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.6% of all 2016 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.

  • Sidelights3.4× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    4.7% All 2016 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 1.2% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Brake lights2.4× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    4.3% All 2016 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 1.4% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Coil springs: 0.6% here, against 4.1% of all 2016 cars. Shock absorbers: 1.2% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Suzuki Swift MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    28% 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.

  • Brakes
    27% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    19% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    16% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

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%
201512,360Brakes 30%
201410,088Brakes 33%
20138,706Brakes 35%
20128,862Brakes 40%
20116,073Brakes 44%
20105,707Suspension 50%
20096,280Suspension 56%
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 2016 Suzuki Swifts registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score