2007 Smart Fortwo Passion 84 — MOT failures & pass rate
267 MOT tests on the 2007 Smart Fortwo Passion 84 are in this dataset, and 79.4% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.0% of the time, so this is 6.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests against 11.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, malfunction indicator lamp and catalyst emissions — stop lamp alone was recorded 21 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.2% in the 30-60k band and 23.1% in the 90-120k band, a 7.9-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.8% in 2021 to 20.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 43 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.2% | 30 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.5% | 28 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 15 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.2% | 14 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.9% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 21 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 19 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 15 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 14 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 13 |
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 | 27.0% | 72 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.6% | 55 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.6% | 47 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 24 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 22 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 16 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 66 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 120 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 52 | 23.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55 | 21.8% |
| 2022 | 53 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 55 | 23.6% |
| 2024 | 54 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 50 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Fortwo Passion 84
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (10.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2007 Smart Fortwo Passion 84s pass their MOT?
79.4% of the 267 2007 Smart Fortwo Passion 84 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Smart Fortwo Passion 84?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by suspension (11.2%).
Does the 2007 Fortwo Passion 84 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 30-60k band to 23.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 267 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.