2011 Smart Fortwo Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Smart Fortwo Coupe passed 80.2% of its 15,208 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.7% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, service brake performance and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 808 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.7% versus 13.7%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.9pp more often than petrol ones (21.3% vs 19.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 1,626 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.8% | 1,032 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 1,014 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.6% | 701 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 613 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 559 |
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 | 808 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 687 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 674 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 528 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 483 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 401 |
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 | 23.3% | 3,549 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.1% | 3,212 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.9% | 1,510 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 876 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 746 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 572 |
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 | 1,574 | 13.7% |
| 30-60k | 6,569 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 5,117 | 21.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,555 | 22.8% |
| 120-150k | 303 | 23.4% |
| 150k+ | 77 | 24.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,027 | 19.4% |
| Diesel | 3,181 | 21.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,089 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 3,128 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 3,114 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 2,967 | 19.9% |
| 2025 | 2,910 | 20.5% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Fortwo Coupe
On a 2011 Fortwo Coupe, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.8% 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 (6.7% 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 2011 Smart Fortwo Coupes pass their MOT?
80.2% of the 15,208 2011 Smart Fortwo Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Smart Fortwo Coupe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by suspension (6.8%).
Does the 2011 Fortwo Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.7% in the 0-30k band to 24.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,208 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.