2013 Smart Fortwo 21 Mhd — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,698 MOT tests, the 2013 Smart Fortwo 21 Mhd recorded an 84.6% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 20.1% of the time, so this is 4.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.7% of tests against 5.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, stop lamp and service brake performance — headlamp alone was recorded 68 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.2% versus 12.8%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 164 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.5% | 93 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.1% | 70 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.0% | 67 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.1% | 53 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 39 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 68 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 66 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 54 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 49 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 46 |
| 6 | Wipers | 40 |
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 | 26.3% | 447 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.7% | 335 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.3% | 90 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 71 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 59 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.3% | 56 |
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 | 304 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 952 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 383 | 19.3% |
| 90-120k | 56 | 23.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 332 | 13.3% |
| 2022 | 340 | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 331 | 13.9% |
| 2024 | 348 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 347 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Fortwo 21 Mhd
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.5% 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.
- Tyres (4.1% 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 2013 Smart Fortwo 21 Mhds pass their MOT?
84.6% of the 1,698 2013 Smart Fortwo 21 Mhd MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Smart Fortwo 21 Mhd?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by brakes (5.5%).
Does the 2013 Fortwo 21 Mhd get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,698 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.