Used car guide

2018 Suzuki Swift petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Suzuki Swift first registered in 2018 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 22,353 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

22,353MOTs of 2018 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
85%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 83%)
6,000typical miles a year
8×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2018 Suzuki Swift petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2018 Suzuki Swift petrol than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Rigid brake pipes8× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    4% All 2018 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.1% of all 2018 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.

  • Coil springs3.1× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    3.4% All 2018 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.9% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Wipers1.8× usual
    Suzuki Swift
    5% All 2018 cars
    2.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 1.8% of all 2018 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.

Common 2018 Suzuki Swift petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2018 Suzuki Swift petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    29% 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
    18% 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
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Suspension
    7% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    6% 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
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

Known faults on the 2018 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.

  • Brake servo and airbag recalls (built to mid-2019)

    Built to June 2019

    Cars built Oct 2017 to June 2019 may have a faulty brake servo that loses brake assistance, and cars built up to Feb 2019 were recalled because side airbags and pre-tensioners could go off when they shouldn’t.

    At the viewing: Ask a Suzuki dealer to confirm both recalls were done.

    Source: Auto Express: used Suzuki Swift (Mk7, 2017-2024) review

  • Phone connection dropping out

    All engines

    Android Auto and Apple CarPlay can disconnect at random.

    At the viewing: Connect your phone and drive for a while.

    Source: Auto Express: used Suzuki Swift (Mk7, 2017-2024) review

  • Corroded diamond-cut alloys

    Cars with diamond-cut wheels

    Diamond-cut alloys can corrode once the lacquer is damaged.

    At the viewing: Look at the wheels for bubbling or white corrosion.

    Source: Auto Express: used Suzuki Swift (Mk7, 2017-2024) review

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2018 Suzuki Swift petrol

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

  1. Have the brake servo and airbag recalls been done?
  2. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 8× as often on the 2018 Suzuki Swift petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 3.1× as often on the 2018 Suzuki Swift petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the wipers? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2018 Suzuki Swift petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  5. 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%
201723,987Tyres 29%
201631,055Tyres 28%
201536,867Tyres 29%
201429,975Brakes 31%
201326,030Brakes 33%
201226,921Brakes 39%
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 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score