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.

Is the 1987 Suzuki Swift reliable?

Based on MOT data from 151 vehicles, the 1987 Suzuki Swift has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.6%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1987 Suzuki Swift?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Suzuki Swift are: Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (16.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (16.6% of vehicles), Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (14.9% 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 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. 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 MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1987 Suzuki Swift has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.6%, which is 11.4 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that suggests these cars need careful pre-purchase inspection. The dangerous defect rate of 8.6% is low enough not to be a major concern, but the higher failure count tells you these Swifts are ageing noticeably.

At 57,754 miles average and 60,211 miles median, these cars are relatively low-mileage for their age, which is a positive sign. However, the 1.56 average failures and 3.8 advisories per vehicle show that wear and corrosion are common—electrical gremlins, exhaust issues, and trim problems crop up regularly. Before buying, budget for at least a pre-MOT service and get a mechanic to check the suspension and fuel system specifically.

We have limited data for the 1987 Suzuki Swift — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

68.6%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

8.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.56

Over 4.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

60k

Middle half: 41k–79k

For context

These stats describe 151 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 151 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Suspension & steering 16.9%

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Tyre wear 14.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm · Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm · …

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

Other issues 12.7%

Oil leak · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A'

Exhaust & emissions 11%

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Brake wear 10.1%

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded

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

Wipers & washers 6.8%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 151 Suzuki Swift cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Suzuki Swift

Based on MOT data from 151 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 8.6% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Suzuki 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.

60,211

typical

40,506

low mileage

78,800

high mileage

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

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 40,506 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.

✓ 40,506–78,800 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Suzuki Swifts sit.

⚠ Over 106,380 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

4.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.56

Avg failures per vehicle

3.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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

Or browse all models: Suzuki →

Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on