2010 Smart Fortwo Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
24,354 MOT tests on the 2010 Smart Fortwo Coupe are in this dataset, and 77.5% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), the 2010 Fortwo Coupe comes out 1.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.6%) and suspension (10.9%) 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 1,571 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.7% versus 17.8%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 21.7% fail against 24.5% for diesel, a 2.8-point gap across 24,354 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.6% in 2021 to 21.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 2,812 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.9% | 2,653 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 1,953 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.6% | 1,117 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 1,062 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 943 |
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 | 1,571 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 1,386 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,195 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 984 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 870 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 842 |
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 | 23.8% | 5,789 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.8% | 5,788 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.1% | 3,669 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.1% | 1,488 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 1,484 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 1,246 |
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 | 1,987 | 17.8% |
| 30-60k | 9,761 | 21.4% |
| 60-90k | 9,109 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,791 | 24.4% |
| 120-150k | 551 | 25.4% |
| 150k+ | 130 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 17,733 | 21.7% |
| Diesel | 6,621 | 24.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,240 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 5,128 | 22.7% |
| 2023 | 4,936 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 4,664 | 22.3% |
| 2025 | 4,386 | 21.8% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Fortwo Coupe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.9% 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 (8.0% 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 2010 Smart Fortwo Coupes pass their MOT?
77.5% of the 24,354 2010 Smart Fortwo Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Smart Fortwo Coupe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by suspension (10.9%).
Does the 2010 Fortwo Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.8% in the 0-30k band to 27.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,354 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.