2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Cdi Auto Unclassified — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 865 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Cdi Auto Unclassified, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 81.7% was above the average for cars of a similar age (79.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 20.3% in the 90-120k group versus 12.2% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 93 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.4% | 64 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.2% | 54 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.8% | 33 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 23 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 43 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 38 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 30 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 28 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 26 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 25 |
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 | 27.1% | 234 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.9% | 215 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 71 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.2% | 62 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.5% | 56 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 39 |
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 | 82 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 423 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 249 | 19.7% |
| 90-120k | 79 | 20.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 176 | 16.5% |
| 2022 | 186 | 19.4% |
| 2023 | 179 | 20.1% |
| 2024 | 171 | 19.9% |
| 2025 | 153 | 15.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Unclassified
Before buying a 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Cdi Auto Unclassified, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 10.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.4% 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.
- Suspension (6.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 Cdi Auto Unclassifieds pass their MOT?
81.7% of the 865 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Cdi Auto Unclassified MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Cdi Auto Unclassified?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by brakes (7.4%).
Does the 2012 Unclassified get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 0-30k band to 20.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 865 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.