Fiat Swift: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Fiat Swift passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 15.6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 6,820 individual Fiat Swift tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 92.3% first-time pass rate means roughly 8 in every 100 Fiat Swifts presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Fiat Swift tested had covered 17,062 miles and was built around 2018.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Fiat Swift sits 15.6 points above the national average, ranked 329 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Fiat Swift rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Fiat Swifts at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Fiat Swift

1. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 1.3% of tests (3.11x the national rate for this defect)
2. Service brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 0.3% of tests (1.36x the national rate for this defect)
3. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.3% of tests
4. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1.6% of tests
5. A tyre seriously damaged, 0.7% of tests
6. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 0.7% of tests
7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.4% of tests
8. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.4% of tests
9. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.3% of tests
10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.3% of tests

From 6,902 DVSA-tracked Fiat Swift tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.82% of these flagged Fiat Swift defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Fiat Swift

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Fiat Swift before it actually fails on it.

1. A tyre seriously damaged, 10.7% of tests, also fails
2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.6% of tests
3. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.6% of tests
4. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 1.3% of tests
5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.5% of tests
6. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 0.5% of tests
7. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 0.3% of tests
8. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 0.3% of tests
9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.2% of tests
10. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 0.2% of tests

From 6,902 DVSA-tracked Fiat Swift tests, 2024.

Fiat Swift pass rate by model year

From its 2016 to its 2021 model year, the Fiat Swift's first-time pass rate has risen 3.2 points, from 91.8% to 95%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Fiat Swift year:

• 2016 Fiat Swift - 91.8% first-time pass, 535 tests
• 2017 Fiat Swift - 92.1% first-time pass, 1,519 tests
• 2018 Fiat Swift - 93.6% first-time pass, 1,679 tests
• 2019 Fiat Swift - 93.4% first-time pass, 1,638 tests
• 2020 Fiat Swift - 95.8% first-time pass, 600 tests
• 2021 Fiat Swift - 95% first-time pass, 464 tests

Other Fiat models

• Fiat 500 - 71.6%
• Fiat Panda - 69.3%
• Fiat Ducato - 77.1%
• Fiat Punto - 63.5%
• Fiat Doblo - 68.9%
• Fiat 500x - 79.2%
• Fiat 500l - 69.9%
• Fiat 500c - 70.4%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Audi S4 Black Edition Tdi Quattro A - 92.4%
• Mercedes-Benz E 300 Amg Line Edition De Auto - 92.4%
• Volkswagen T-Roc - 92.3%
• Vauxhall Corsa Elite Edition - 92.3%
• Nissan Qashqai Acenta Prem Dig-T Mhev - 92.3%
• Renault Captur Iconic Tce Auto - 92.3%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

Embed this data

Run a site about the Fiat Swift? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/fiat-swift"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/fiat-swift.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="Fiat Swift MOT Pass Rate: 92.3% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

Run a garage or parts site? Embed the Fiat Swift's top real failure reason instead, linked back here.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/fiat-swift"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/fiat-swift.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Fiat Swift most common MOT failure: An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction (1.3% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate