Suzuki Swift Gl 3dr (2009)

133 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68% first-time pass rate

2009 Suzuki Swift Gl 3dr

CarHunch analysed 133 real MOT records for the 2009 Suzuki Swift Gl 3dr. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

This 2009 Swift GL 3DR struggles at MOT time, with a 68% first-time pass rate sitting 12 percentage points below the UK average of 80%. The good news is that dangerous defects are absent from this cohort, so when failures do occur, they're typically fixable rather than safety-critical issues.

At an average mileage of 80,565 miles for a 15-year-old car, these Swifts are tracking normally for age, yet each vehicle averages 1.38 failures per test, suggesting wear-related maintenance catches up quickly. Before buying one, budget for pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with aging Swifts, as the weak MOT record points to cumulative component wear rather than a design flaw.

Below average reliability 12% below UK average
68%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
81,414
typical mileage
61,782–99,082 middle half
0%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.38
avg MOT failures per car
over 6.3 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2009 Suzuki Swift Gl 3dr

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Suzuki Swift Gl 3dr

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Other (86%) 114 79.3% 1.61
Petrol (14%) 19 0% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2009 Suzuki Swift Gl 3dr vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

61,782
low mileage
81,414
typical
99,082
high mileage

Half of all 2009 Suzuki Swift Gl 3dr vehicles fall between 61,782 and 99,082 miles.

2009 Suzuki Swift Gl 3dr — Still on the Road

59 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 55% of the peak remain.

58 59 2017 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.

MOT History Averages

6.3
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.38
Avg failures per vehicle
0
Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Suzuki Swift Gl 3dr?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Suzuki Swift Gl 3dr:

2008