2009 Smart Fortwo Passion 84 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Smart Fortwo Passion 84 passed 74.2% of its 569 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (25.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.4%) and suspension (11.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and position lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 37 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 21.4% in the 0-30k band and 35.8% in the 90-120k band, a 14.4-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 82 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.9% | 68 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 49 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.1% | 29 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 27 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 19 |
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 | 37 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 33 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 31 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 30 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 24 |
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 | 28.3% | 161 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.2% | 155 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.8% | 90 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 46 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 46 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.0% | 34 |
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 | 56 | 21.4% |
| 30-60k | 214 | 22.9% |
| 60-90k | 206 | 26.2% |
| 90-120k | 67 | 35.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 118 | 23.7% |
| 2022 | 116 | 23.3% |
| 2023 | 112 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 110 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 113 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Fortwo Passion 84
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.4% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (11.9% 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 (8.6% 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 2009 Smart Fortwo Passion 84s pass their MOT?
74.2% of the 569 2009 Smart Fortwo Passion 84 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Smart Fortwo Passion 84?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by suspension (11.9%).
Does the 2009 Fortwo Passion 84 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.4% in the 0-30k band to 35.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 569 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.