Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Fiat Swift?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2016 Fiat Swift?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2016 Fiat Swift?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2016 Fiat Swift reliable?

Based on MOT data from 555 vehicles, the 2016 Fiat Swift has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Fiat Swift?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Fiat Swift are: Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (13.3% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (13.3% of vehicles), COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION (12.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2016 Fiat Swift?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Fiat Swift (2016)

555 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.1% first-time pass rate

2016 Fiat Swift

CarHunch analysed 555 real MOT records for the 2016 Fiat Swift. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 Fiat Swift passes its MOT at 91.1%, well above the UK average of 80%, which is a genuinely strong result and suggests these cars are built to last. Only 5.8% have ever recorded a dangerous defect, so safety issues are rare in this cohort.

These vehicles are running at a median of just 15,003 miles—remarkably low for an eight-year-old car—which partly explains the high pass rate and makes age-related wear less of a concern. With an average of 0.73 failures and 2.0 advisories per test, the typical Swift needs only minor maintenance between MOTs; if you're buying one, prioritise a full service history and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension and fluid leaks, where most advisories cluster.

The 2016 Fiat Swift passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (91.1% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ Around 1 in 20 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

91.1%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

5.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.73

Over 7.5 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

15k

Middle half: 11k–20k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 91.1% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 555 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 555 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 13.3%

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 12.6%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Wipers & washers 9.3%

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively · Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively · Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Lighting 6.2%

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault · Nearside Headlamp aim too low · Offside Headlamp aim too low · …

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Brake wear 4.9%

Parking brake efficiency below requirements

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 555 Fiat Swift cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Fiat Swift

Based on MOT data from 555 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 5.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 7,269 Fiat Swift vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 40.1%

2,915

Black 31.3%

2,272

Grey 15.4%

1,121

Gold 7%

506

Silver 3.9%

287

Blue 1.6%

116

Red 0.7%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Fiat Swift vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

15,003

typical

10,853

low mileage

20,446

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Fiat Swift vehicles fall between 10,853 and 20,446 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 10,853 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 10,853–20,446 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Fiat Swifts sit.

⚠ Over 27,602 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Fiat Swift — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Fiat Swifts are still on the road.

Strong survival — 523 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

7.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.73

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Fiat Swift: All Swift years → Which year to buy? →

2015 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Fiat →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Fiat Swift stacks up against a rival.

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