Used car guide

2012 Suzuki Swift petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Suzuki Swift first registered in 2012 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 25,223 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

25,223MOTs of 2012 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
67%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 64%)
6,200typical miles a year
4.4×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Suzuki Swift petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Suzuki Swift petrol than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Rigid brake pipes4.4× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    21.9% All 2012 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 0.8% of all 2012 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.

  • Steering rack inner joints3.3× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    6.6% All 2012 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Number plate lights1.6× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    11% All 2012 cars
    6.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 2% of all 2012 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.

  • Brake lights2.1× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    7.7% All 2012 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.4%, against 2.9% of all 2012 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 pipes13× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    2.6% All 2012 cars
    0.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2012 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: 2.3% here, against 8.5% of all 2012 cars. Shock absorbers: 2.2% here, against 5.8% of all 2012 cars.

Common 2012 Suzuki Swift petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 Suzuki Swift petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    39% 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
    27% 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.

  • Steering
    7% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Known faults on the 2012 Suzuki Swift petrol

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 2012 Suzuki Swift petrol

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 4.4× as often on the 2012 Suzuki Swift petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the steering rack inner joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the 2012 Suzuki Swift petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 1.6× as often on the 2012 Suzuki Swift petrol 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
2023290Tyres 8%
20224,826Tyres 14%
202114,926Tyres 17%
202023,909Tyres 25%
201932,597Tyres 27%
201830,001Tyres 29%
201723,987Tyres 29%
201631,055Tyres 28%
201536,867Tyres 29%
201429,975Brakes 31%
201326,030Brakes 33%
201118,714Brakes 43%
201018,099Brakes 48%
200920,802Suspension 53%
200822,126Suspension 56%
200721,373Suspension 57%
200612,278Suspension 59%
20054,051Suspension 62%
2003237Brakes 37%
2002604Brakes 44%
2001298Brakes 43%
2000138Suspension 44%
1999111Brakes 39%
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 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Suzuki Swift cars first registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score