2021 Smart Eq Fortwo Prime Exclusive — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 310 MOT tests, the 2021 Smart Eq Fortwo Prime Exclusive recorded a 95.5% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 8.6% of the time, so this is 4.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.9%) and visibility (1.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 7 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 10.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.9% | 9 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.6% | 5 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 3 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.7% | 2 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.3% | 1 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 7 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 2 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 1 |
| 6 | Size/type | 1 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 10.0% | 31 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.2% | 16 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.6% | 8 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 7 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 1 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 1 |
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 | 302 | 4.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 151 | 3.3% |
| 2025 | 150 | 6.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Eq Fortwo Prime Exclusive
On a 2021 Eq Fortwo Prime Exclusive, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (2.9% 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.
- Visibility (1.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (1.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2021 Smart Eq Fortwo Prime Exclusives pass their MOT?
95.5% of the 310 2021 Smart Eq Fortwo Prime Exclusive MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Smart Eq Fortwo Prime Exclusive?
Tyres, recorded in 2.9% of tests, followed by visibility (1.6%).
Methodology & source. Based on 310 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.