Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 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 2013 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 2013 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.

How many 2013 Suzuki Swift vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

32% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2013 Suzuki Swift reliable?

Based on MOT data from 9,376 vehicles, the 2013 Suzuki Swift has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Suzuki Swift?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Suzuki Swift are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (48% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (45.7% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (41.5% 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 2013 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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Suzuki Swift (2013)

9,376 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.1% first-time pass rate

2013 Suzuki Swift

CarHunch analysed 9,376 real MOT records for the 2013 Suzuki Swift. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 Suzuki Swift passes its MOT on the first attempt 83.1% of the time, slightly ahead of the UK average of 80%, which is a decent result for a decade-old city car. However, the dangerous defect rate of 32.3% is a genuine concern—nearly a third of these vehicles have shown serious safety issues at some point, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection is essential.

These Swifts are running at moderate mileage for their age (median 48,660 miles), suggesting many are urban runarounds with light use. The average advisory count of 14.2 per vehicle indicates wear and tear is catching up with age, but failures average just 2.18, meaning most issues are manageable rather than structural—budget for regular maintenance and check wear items like brakes and suspension closely before buying.

The 2013 Suzuki Swift has a decent first-time pass rate (83.1%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

83.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

32.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.18

Over 11.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

49k

Middle half: 36k–62k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 14.2 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 9,376 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 9,376 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 48%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear 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.

Brake wear 27.8%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

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

Lighting 13.7%

Offside Front Position lamp not working

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 9,376 Suzuki Swift cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Suzuki Swift

Based on MOT data from 9,376 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 32.3% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (96%)	8,980	83.3%	2.16
Diesel (4%)	393	79.2%	2.61

Colour Breakdown

Based on 187,898 Suzuki Swift vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 21.1%

39,720

Blue 19.9%

37,399

White 17.1%

32,201

Silver 11.6%

21,778

Black 11.5%

21,538

Grey 10.2%

19,126

Green 3.8%

7,129

Orange 3.5%

6,592

Turquoise 0.7%

1,372

Yellow 0.4%

765

Purple 0.1%

240

Bronze 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 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.

48,660

typical

35,513

low mileage

62,256

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Suzuki Swift vehicles fall between 35,513 and 62,256 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 35,513 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.

✓ 35,513–62,256 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Suzuki Swifts sit.

⚠ Over 84,045 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Suzuki Swift — Still on the Road

Almost all 2013 Suzuki Swifts are still on the road.

Strong survival — 8,434 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 94% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* 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

11.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.18

Avg failures per vehicle

14.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Suzuki →

Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Suzuki Swift stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing