2009 Smart Fortwo Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 25,539 MOT tests, the 2009 Smart Fortwo Coupe recorded a 77.1% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 2.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.3%) and suspension (11.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, service brake performance and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 1,558 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.3% versus 17.4%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.0% fail against 25.8% for diesel, a 3.8-point gap across 25,539 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.2% 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 | 12.3% | 3,141 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.2% | 2,856 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.2% | 2,099 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 1,251 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.4% | 1,114 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 1,020 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,558 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 1,314 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,254 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 1,038 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 992 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 821 |
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 | 27.2% | 6,936 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.3% | 6,214 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.8% | 4,282 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 1,885 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 1,871 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.6% | 1,673 |
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 | 2,122 | 17.4% |
| 30-60k | 9,757 | 22.0% |
| 60-90k | 9,477 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 3,382 | 25.1% |
| 120-150k | 595 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 183 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 19,122 | 22.0% |
| Diesel | 6,417 | 25.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,421 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 5,281 | 22.3% |
| 2023 | 5,165 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 4,950 | 23.4% |
| 2025 | 4,722 | 23.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Fortwo Coupe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.2% 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.
- Brakes (8.2% 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 2009 Smart Fortwo Coupes pass their MOT?
77.1% of the 25,539 2009 Smart Fortwo Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Smart Fortwo Coupe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by suspension (11.2%).
Does the 2009 Fortwo Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.4% in the 0-30k band to 27.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,539 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.