Used car guide

2013 Suzuki Swift: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Suzuki Swift first registered in 2013: we looked at the 8,706 MOTs these cars had during 2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

8,706MOTs of 2013 cars, done in 2025
68%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)
6,100typical miles a year
3.7×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2013 Suzuki Swift?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2013 Suzuki Swift than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Rigid brake pipes3.7× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    17.2% All 2013 cars
    4.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 0.6% of all 2013 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.

  • Brake lights2.3× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    8.4% All 2013 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.1%, against 2.8% of all 2013 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.

  • Number plate lights1.8× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    10.8% All 2013 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1.8% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Sidelights1.8× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    7.3% All 2013 cars
    4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, against 3.5% of all 2013 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.

  • Corroded fuel pipes26× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    2.6% All 2013 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2013 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.

Better than most

Coil springs: 3.4% here, against 8.7% of all 2013 cars. Shock absorbers: 2.2% here, against 6% of all 2013 cars.

Common 2013 Suzuki Swift MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2013 Suzuki Swift MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    35% 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
    31% 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
    28% 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
    26% 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
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    6% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Known faults on the 2013 Suzuki Swift

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2013 Suzuki Swift

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 3.7× as often on the 2013 Suzuki Swift as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the brake lights? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2013 Suzuki Swift as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2013 Suzuki Swift as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Suzuki Swift?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Suzuki Swift compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023295Tyres 8%
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%
20128,862Brakes 40%
20116,073Brakes 44%
20105,707Suspension 50%
20096,280Suspension 56%
20086,479Suspension 58%
20076,036Suspension 59%
20063,344Suspension 60%
20051,095Suspension 63%
2003–Too few tests
2002168Brakes 46%
2001–Too few tests
2000–Too few tests
1999–Too few tests
1998–Too few tests
1997–Too few tests
1996–Too few tests
1995–Too few tests
1994–Too few tests
1993–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests
1991–Too few tests
1990–Too few tests
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, counting the MOTs of Suzuki Swift cars first registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score