2008 Suzuki Swift — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 55,314 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Suzuki Swift, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 70.6% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (73.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.3% in the 150k+ group versus 17.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.3% | 10,114 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.5% | 8,017 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 7,886 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.5% | 3,026 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.4% | 2,968 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 2,118 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 4,248 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,027 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 3,290 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 3,169 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 2,946 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,890 |
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 | 40.0% | 22,138 |
| 2 | Brakes | 39.9% | 22,081 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.6% | 15,275 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.8% | 5,992 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 5,235 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 4,796 |
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 | 1,059 | 17.1% |
| 30-60k | 8,190 | 24.0% |
| 60-90k | 19,716 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 18,312 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 6,666 | 32.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,331 | 32.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 52,985 | 29.4% |
| Diesel | 2,329 | 30.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,022 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 12,150 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 11,291 | 29.7% |
| 2024 | 10,150 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 8,701 | 29.8% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Swift
Before buying a 2008 Suzuki Swift, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 18.3% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (18.3% 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.
- Brakes (14.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2008 Suzuki Swifts pass their MOT?
70.6% of the 55,314 2008 Suzuki Swift MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Suzuki Swift?
Suspension, recorded in 18.3% of tests, followed by brakes (14.5%).
Does the 2008 Swift get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 0-30k band to 32.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 55,314 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.