Smart Fortwo Passion 71 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Smart Fortwo Passion 71 appears in 3,050 MOT tests spanning model years 2007–2011, and 77.8% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.4% fail rate), the Fortwo Passion 71 comes out 4.2pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.3% of all tests — 6.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 169 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.1% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Fortwo Passion 71 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 789 | 77.6% | 22.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 2,152 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 107 | 74.8% | 25.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 466 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.0% | 275 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.1% | 218 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 150 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.5% | 136 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 134 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 126 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 23 |
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 | 169 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 169 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 160 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 156 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 139 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 118 |
| 7 | Fuel cap/sealing device | 88 |
| 8 | Rigid brake pipes | 82 |
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 | 24.6% | 749 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.8% | 696 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.2% | 434 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 240 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.9% | 180 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 138 |
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 | 203 | 15.8% |
| 30-60k | 955 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,263 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 494 | 23.1% |
| 120-150k | 112 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 652 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 624 | 20.7% |
| 2023 | 626 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 585 | 22.7% |
| 2025 | 563 | 24.0% |
What to check before buying a Smart Fortwo Passion 71
- Lighting & signalling (15.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.0% 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 (7.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Smart Fortwo Passion 71?
77.8% of the 3,050 Smart Fortwo Passion 71 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 22.2% fail rate, across model years 2007–2011.
What does the Smart Fortwo Passion 71 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.3% of tests, then suspension (9.0%).
How much does mileage affect Fortwo Passion 71 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 24.1% for 120-150k, a 8.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,050 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.