Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Suzuki 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 1987 Suzuki 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 1987 Suzuki 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.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1987 Suzuki 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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Suzuki Swift (1987)

151 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.6% first-time pass rate

1987 Suzuki Swift

CarHunch analysed 151 real MOT records for the 1987 Suzuki Swift. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 11.4% below UK average

68.6%

pass MOT first time

UK average: ~80%

60,211

typical mileage

40,506–78,800 middle half

8.6%

ever had a dangerous defect

recorded at any MOT

1.56

avg MOT failures per car

over 4.9 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1987 Suzuki Swift

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

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

Inspection

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

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Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Suzuki Swift 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.

40,506

low mileage

60,211

typical

78,800

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Suzuki Swift vehicles fall between 40,506 and 78,800 miles.

MOT History Averages

4.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.56

Avg failures per vehicle

3.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1987 Suzuki Swift

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

16.9%

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
16.6%

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
14.9%

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
14.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
12.7%

Oil leak
12%

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
11%

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases
10.7%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Suzuki Swift?

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

Other model years — Suzuki Swift:

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020