Smart Fortwo Passion 84 MOT pass rate & common failures
2,126 MOT tests on the Smart Fortwo Passion 84 (2007–2011) give it a 76.9% pass rate. That is 2.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.7%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.4% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and headlamp — coil spring alone was recorded 113 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.6% versus 19.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 25.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Fortwo Passion 84 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 267 | 79.4% | 20.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 817 | 77.0% | 23.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 569 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 468 | 78.4% | 21.6% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 307 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.6% | 226 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 161 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.0% | 107 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 87 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 83 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 73 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 14 |
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 | 113 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 108 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 103 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 102 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 100 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 99 |
| 7 | Pins and bushes | 58 |
| 8 | Washers | 58 |
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 | 25.3% | 538 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.8% | 527 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.8% | 337 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 185 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.8% | 144 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 140 |
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 | 171 | 19.3% |
| 30-60k | 790 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 791 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 289 | 27.7% |
| 120-150k | 63 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 447 | 23.3% |
| 2022 | 421 | 19.7% |
| 2023 | 436 | 25.5% |
| 2024 | 418 | 23.7% |
| 2025 | 404 | 23.3% |
What to check before buying a Smart Fortwo Passion 84
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.6% 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 (7.6% 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 84?
76.9% of the 2,126 Smart Fortwo Passion 84 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 23.1% fail rate, across model years 2007–2011.
What does the Smart Fortwo Passion 84 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, then suspension (10.6%).
How much does mileage affect Fortwo Passion 84 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 19.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 28.6% for 120-150k, a 9.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,126 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.