2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Unclassified — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 744 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Unclassified, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 84.1% was above the average for cars of a similar age (79.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 31.4% in the 90-120k group versus 9.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 7.7% | 57 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 48 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.1% | 23 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 22 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.7% | 20 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 39 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 28 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 20 |
| 5 | Wipers | 19 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 18 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 24.3% | 181 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.7% | 169 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 49 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.3% | 47 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.9% | 44 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 23 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 173 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 387 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 142 | 21.1% |
| 90-120k | 35 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 140 | 12.1% |
| 2022 | 147 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 152 | 16.4% |
| 2024 | 151 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 154 | 19.5% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Unclassified
Before buying a 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Unclassified, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 7.7% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (7.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (6.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Unclassifieds pass their MOT?
84.1% of the 744 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Unclassified MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Unclassified?
Brakes, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.5%).
Does the 2012 Unclassified get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 744 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.