2007 Smart Fortwo Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Smart Fortwo Coupe passed 75.7% of its 11,067 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 26.9% of the time, so this is 2.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests against 11.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 814 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.1% versus 16.9%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 1,786 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.5% | 1,277 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.3% | 803 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.0% | 550 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 550 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 533 |
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 | 814 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 722 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 556 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 502 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 487 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 392 |
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 | 28.3% | 3,137 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.5% | 2,606 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.9% | 2,198 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 952 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.6% | 947 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 690 |
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 | 629 | 16.9% |
| 30-60k | 4,120 | 23.0% |
| 60-90k | 4,447 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,518 | 26.7% |
| 120-150k | 296 | 22.3% |
| 150k+ | 45 | 31.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,399 | 23.8% |
| 2022 | 2,312 | 23.7% |
| 2023 | 2,276 | 24.2% |
| 2024 | 2,099 | 25.1% |
| 2025 | 1,981 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Fortwo Coupe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.5% 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.
- Brakes (7.3% 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.
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 2007 Smart Fortwo Coupes pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 11,067 2007 Smart Fortwo Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Smart Fortwo Coupe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by suspension (11.5%).
Does the 2007 Fortwo Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.9% in the 0-30k band to 31.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,067 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.