Smart Fortwo Brabus Xclusive A MOT pass rate & common failures
The Smart Fortwo Brabus Xclusive A appears in 774 MOT tests spanning model years 2010–2014, and 84.8% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (21.4% fail rate), the Fortwo Brabus Xclusive A comes out 6.2pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.3%) and brakes (5.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 39 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.6% once past 90-120k — 2.7× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Fortwo Brabus Xclusive A model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 56 | 76.8% | 23.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 185 | 82.2% | 17.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 173 | 86.7% | 13.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 349 | 86.3% | 13.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 64 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.4% | 42 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 33 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.8% | 29 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 21 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 20 |
| 7 | Suspension | 2.1% | 16 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 3 |
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 | 39 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 22 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 20 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 19 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 18 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 18 |
| 7 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 8 | Washers | 14 |
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 | 20.2% | 156 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.7% | 114 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.1% | 86 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 6.1% | 47 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 43 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 38 |
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 | 181 | 9.4% |
| 30-60k | 326 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 216 | 20.8% |
| 90-120k | 43 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 161 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 159 | 15.1% |
| 2023 | 151 | 13.3% |
| 2024 | 151 | 15.9% |
| 2025 | 152 | 17.8% |
What to check before buying a Smart Fortwo Brabus Xclusive A
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (4.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Smart Fortwo Brabus Xclusive A?
84.8% of the 774 Smart Fortwo Brabus Xclusive A MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 15.3% fail rate, across model years 2010–2014.
What does the Smart Fortwo Brabus Xclusive A most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests, then brakes (5.4%).
How much does mileage affect Fortwo Brabus Xclusive A MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 25.6% for 90-120k, a 16.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 774 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.