2006 Suzuki Swift — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 32,784 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Suzuki Swift, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 68.8% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (71.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 35.7% in the 150k+ group versus 17.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.1% | 6,582 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 4,946 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.2% | 4,645 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 1,891 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.7% | 1,870 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 1,617 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,515 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 2,271 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 2,034 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 1,706 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,612 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 1,599 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 43.2% | 14,167 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.5% | 12,615 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.1% | 9,216 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 4,578 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.7% | 4,497 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.8% | 3,884 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 538 | 17.8% |
| 30-60k | 4,035 | 26.0% |
| 60-90k | 10,190 | 29.9% |
| 90-120k | 11,815 | 33.1% |
| 120-150k | 4,984 | 33.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,185 | 35.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 31,468 | 31.0% |
| Diesel | 1,316 | 35.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,499 | 30.9% |
| 2022 | 7,559 | 31.3% |
| 2023 | 6,624 | 31.7% |
| 2024 | 5,579 | 31.2% |
| 2025 | 4,523 | 31.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Swift
Before buying a 2006 Suzuki Swift, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 20.1% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (20.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2006 Suzuki Swifts pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 32,784 2006 Suzuki Swift MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Suzuki Swift?
Suspension, recorded in 20.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.1%).
Does the 2006 Swift get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.8% in the 0-30k band to 35.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,784 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.