2008 Smart Fortwo Passion 84 — MOT failures & pass rate
817 MOT tests on the 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion 84 are in this dataset, and 77.0% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 2008 Fortwo Passion 84 comes out 3.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.1% of all tests — 5.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and service brake performance — stop lamp alone was recorded 48 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.4% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.1% in 2021 to 22.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 123 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.4% | 77 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 62 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.0% | 41 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 36 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 33 |
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 | 48 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 43 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 39 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 33 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 33 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
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 | 27.2% | 222 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.4% | 191 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.7% | 128 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 66 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.2% | 59 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 54 |
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 | 81 | 19.8% |
| 30-60k | 302 | 19.9% |
| 60-90k | 295 | 24.8% |
| 90-120k | 110 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 179 | 25.1% |
| 2022 | 162 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 168 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 159 | 23.3% |
| 2025 | 149 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Fortwo Passion 84
On a 2008 Fortwo Passion 84, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.4% 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
How many 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion 84s pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 817 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion 84 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion 84?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by suspension (9.4%).
Does the 2008 Fortwo Passion 84 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.8% in the 0-30k band to 26.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 817 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.