Suzuki Swift (1989)
1989 Suzuki Swift
CarHunch analysed 181 real MOT records for the 1989 Suzuki Swift. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1989 Suzuki Swift passes its MOT first time in only 63% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, which signals these cars are ageing and increasingly difficult to keep roadworthy. Dangerous defects show up in just over 1 in 10 examples (10.5%), so while not alarming, it's worth factoring into your pre-purchase inspection.
These Swifts are genuinely old now—the median mileage of 53,200 is relatively low for their age, suggesting many are weekend cars or have been off the road intermittently, though that hasn't protected them from deterioration. Expect roughly 1.5 failures and 4 advisories per test, meaning worn brakes, suspension play, and corrosion are the norm; budget for repairs before buying and have a pre-purchase inspection done by a mechanic familiar with 1980s Japanese cars.
What to check before buying a 1989 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
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Mileage Distribution
Most 1989 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.
Half of all 1989 Suzuki Swift vehicles fall between 25,220 and 77,758 miles.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1989 Suzuki Swift
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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32.6%
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
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27.1%
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
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25%
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
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21.9%
Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
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15.3%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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15.3%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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13.6%
Oil leak
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13.1%
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Suzuki Swift?
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