Used car guide

2021 Suzuki Swift: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Suzuki Swifts, from 7,493 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

7,493MOT tests in 2025
89%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
5,900typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for wipers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Suzuki Swifts than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Wipers2.1× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    7.8% All 2021 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 2.4% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

By area

The share of 2021 Suzuki Swift MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    21% 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
    12% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Lights and electrics
    2% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    1% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

  • Suspension
    1% 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.

Looking at a Suzuki Swift?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20224,599Tyres 15%
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%
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 2021 Suzuki Swifts registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score