Suzuki Swift, Buying guide, MOT record, UK numbers and recalls
161,131 Suzuki Swifts are licensed in the UK. In 2025 they passed 72.3% of initial MOT tests, in line with the 72.3% UK average.
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Suzuki Swift at the MOT
72.3% of 135,247 initial tests passed in 2025, ranking the Swift 308th of 575 models. Suzuki Swifts aged 3 to 5 years passed 88.6% of MOT tests in 2025; for examples aged 11 years and over that fell to 59.1%.
First-time pass rate, 2025
Share of initial tests passed, retests excluded.
Pass rate by age at test
Suzuki Swift tests in 2025.
Where Swifts fail
Share of all failure items recorded on Suzuki Swift tests in 2025.
The items testers recorded most often were position lamp not working (8.4%), stop lamp not working (6.4%) and wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively (6.2%).
The MOT page lists every common Swift MOT failure. For one car's own results and advisories, run a free MOT history check.
What to look at on a viewing
The Swift's most common failure areas, and what a tester checks in each.
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Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Walk round with every light on: headlights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp. Check no warning lights stay on after starting.27.6% of Swift failure items
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Brakes
Make sure the pedal feels firm, the car stops in a straight line, the handbrake holds on a slope and no brake warning light is showing.22.7% of Swift failure items
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Suspension
Listen for knocks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for leaking shock absorbers and split rubber gaiters.19.7% of Swift failure items
Suzuki Swifts in the UK
161,131 were licensed at the end of June 2026, more than any other Suzuki. The number licensed has grown 55% since the end of 2014.
- Change since 2014
- +55%from 104,185 licensed
- Typical year of first use
- 2016half of those licensed at the end of 2025 were first used in 2016 or earlier
- First registered in 2025
- 10,825against 13,262 in 2015
- Declared off the road
- 8,1824.8% of those registered, under SORN
Licensed Suzuki Swifts since 2014
Licensed at each year end and in the latest quarter.
Show the figures
| Date | Licensed |
|---|---|
| End of 2014 | 104,185 |
| End of 2015 | 112,777 |
| End of 2016 | 120,411 |
| End of 2017 | 125,063 |
| End of 2018 | 131,092 |
| End of 2019 | 137,978 |
| End of 2020 | 141,592 |
| End of 2021 | 144,747 |
| End of 2022 | 145,463 |
| End of 2023 | 146,817 |
| End of 2024 | 150,673 |
| End of 2025 | 155,407 |
| End of June 2026 | 161,131 |
How old they are
Licensed Suzuki Swifts by year of first use.
- Licensed at the end of 2025
- First registered that year
A further 1,283 were first used before 2006.
Show the figures
| First used | Licensed, end 2025 | First registered that year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10,448 | 10,825 |
| 2024 | 8,799 | 9,201 |
| 2023 | 5,959 | 6,325 |
| 2022 | 4,283 | 4,570 |
| 2021 | 7,319 | 7,623 |
| 2020 | 7,842 | 8,177 |
| 2019 | 10,747 | 11,279 |
| 2018 | 9,866 | 10,556 |
| 2017 | 7,940 | 8,511 |
| 2016 | 10,363 | 11,117 |
| 2015 | 12,232 | 13,262 |
| 2014 | 9,889 | |
| 2013 | 8,496 | |
| 2012 | 8,612 | |
| 2011 | 5,860 | |
| 2010 | 5,364 | |
| 2009 | 5,820 | |
| 2008 | 5,755 | |
| 2007 | 5,309 | |
| 2006 | 2,900 |
12,232 Swifts first used in 2015 were still licensed at the end of 2025, roughly 92% of the 13,262 first registered that year.
Swift engines and fuel
1.2 litre engines made up 59% of Suzuki Swift MOT tests in 2025, followed by 1.0 litre at 12%. Petrol accounts for 63% of licensed Swifts and hybrid electric for 36%.
Engine size at MOT, 2025
Share of 135,238 initial MOT tests in 2025.
Fuel type, licensed Swifts
DfT licensing statistics, June 2026.
| Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 100,970 | 63% |
| Diesel | 2,080 | 1% |
| Hybrid electric | 58,070 | 36% |
| Gas | 11 | <0.1% |
Suzuki Swift recalls
19 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Suzuki Swift. The 8 most recent are below. Each covers vehicles built in a set period, so a recall does not mean every Swift is affected.
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Feb 2025 R/2025/050
Measures Against Loosening of Steering Shaft Nut
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- Steering wheel fastening insufficient the mounting nut may loosen resulting in an abnormal sound or rattling if the use is continued the fitting may become disengaged in the worst case the steering wheel operation may not be possible.
- Remedy
- Check and clean the installation condition of the steering wheel in all vehicles install the steering wheel correctly and tighten the nut to the revised specified torque of 43Nm (before: 33Nm).
-
Dec 2022 R/2022/267
Some vehicles have an inappropriate design and material on check valve of vacuum pump
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- Some vehicles have an inappropriate design and material on the check valve of brake vacuum pump.
- Remedy
- Replace the vacuum pump check valve.
-
Jun 2019 R/2019/186
Unintended activation of the side air bag curtain air bag and seat pre tensioner may occur when rear door is slammed shut
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- Unintended activation of side and curtain air bags and seat belt pre-tensioner.
- Remedy
- Software update to Airbag Controle Module.
-
Mar 2018 R/2018/078
Integrated starter generator belt may fail
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- Due to a lack of strength in the Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) Belt may break during usage. If this happens the water pump will become inoperative and the charging light will illuminate. The coolant temperature warning light will also light due to an increase in coolant temperature. In the worst case scenario the engine may stall and not restart.
- Remedy
- On affected vehicles replace the ISG belt.
-
Mar 2018 R/2018/071
Battery may fail to charge which could cause engine to stall and lights to fade
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- Due to incorrect software in the Engine Control Module (ECM) the ENG A-STOP (Engine Auto Stop Start System) OFF light may blink & the ENG A-STOP system may become inoperative. If the car is driven continuously in this condition the lead-acid battery will not be charged. In the worst case there is a possibility that the lights will dim and the engine may stall and not restart due to low battery voltage.
- Remedy
- Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and reprogramme the ECM with corrected software.
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Jun 2016 R/2016/106
Braking efficiency may be reduced
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- The rear calipers may not have been manufacturer to design specifications. as a result the seals may allow brake fluid to leak. This may affect brake efficiency but the brake fluid level warning light will illuminate before the reservoir is depleted.
- Remedy
- On affected vehicles replace rear calipers
-
Mar 2016 R/2016/041
Rear axle may fail
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- The fixing bolts for the rear axle were mixed with bolts that have no anti friction coating. It is possible that a bolt/s may loosen come off or break and the vehicle could become impossible to drive.
- Remedy
- Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace rear axle bolts.
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Oct 2014 R/2014/105
Engine failure may occur
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- The bolts fixing the pulley to the water pump may work loose and drop out. If they drop out the water pump will not function and the engine will overheat leading to possible engine damage.
- Remedy
- Check bolts for tightness. If existing bolts are to correct torque replace with new bolts. If existing bolts are not to correct torque replace bolts water pump and drive belt.
Swift vs similar cars
Head-to-head comparisons on the same 2025 DVSA data.
Other Suzuki models
The most-tested Suzuki models in 2025, against the Swift's 72.3% MOT pass rate.
Suzuki Swift FAQs
How many Suzuki Swifts are there in the UK?
161,131 Suzuki Swifts were licensed in the UK at the end of June 2026, with a further 8,182 declared off the road (SORN), according to DfT vehicle licensing statistics.
Is the Suzuki Swift reliable?
MOT data does not measure reliability. It records whether a car met the roadworthiness standard on the day of its test. What it does show is a 72.3% first-time pass rate for the Suzuki Swift across 135,247 tests in 2025, in line with the 72.3% average for all cars.
Has the Suzuki Swift had any recalls?
19 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Suzuki Swift. The most recent was published in February 2025. A recall applies to vehicles built in a set period, so check a specific car on the GOV.UK vehicle recall checker.
What should I check before buying a used Suzuki Swift?
On the car itself, start with the areas it most often fails on: lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, brakes and suspension. Then check the individual car's own records. Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and police stolen markers are not part of the MOT record, so they take a history check.
How do I check a Suzuki Swift's history?
Enter the registration of the specific car. A Carpeep car history check reports outstanding finance, write-off category, stolen markers, mileage history, previous keepers, MOT and tax status, import and export markers and scrapped status in one £15 report.
Already found a Swift?
Check its finance, write-off, theft, mileage and keeper history with a £15 vehicle history report.
Across the 1,548 vehicles of every make Carpeep has checked since November 2025, 19% had outstanding finance recorded and 13% an insurance write-off. More on the Suzuki history check. To confirm a car's identity, see the Suzuki VIN check.
- Outstanding finance
- Write-off records
- Stolen markers
- Mileage history
- Previous keepers
MOT figures are aggregated from the DVSA MOT Anonymised data set for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, retests excluded), which also gives the engine sizes. Licensed, SORN, fuel and registration figures are from the Department for Transport vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0120, VEH0124, VEH0160). Recalls are from the DVSA vehicle recalls data, with recalls launched up to October 2026. Government data is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. MOT results describe roadworthiness at test, not mechanical reliability. History-check findings are anonymous counts from reports bought on Carpeep, each vehicle counted once, and are published only where at least 100 vehicles returned an answer.