2010 Smart Fortwo Passion 84 — MOT failures & pass rate
468 MOT tests on the 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion 84 are in this dataset, and 78.4% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 24.4% of the time, so this is 2.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.6%) and suspension (10.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, service brake performance and headlamp — coil spring alone was recorded 29 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2010 Fortwo Passion 84 fails 23.6% of the time in the 30-60k band and 26.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.8 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.2% in 2021 to 18.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 59 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.9% | 51 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.9% | 37 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.9% | 23 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 16 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 12 |
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 | 29 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 28 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 26 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 22 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 21 |
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 | 23.1% | 108 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.1% | 108 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.7% | 64 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 49 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.1% | 38 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 35 |
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 | 208 | 23.6% |
| 60-90k | 168 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 57 | 26.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 94 | 20.2% |
| 2022 | 89 | 20.2% |
| 2023 | 100 | 26.0% |
| 2024 | 94 | 22.3% |
| 2025 | 91 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Fortwo Passion 84
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.9% 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 (7.9% 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 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion 84s pass their MOT?
78.4% of the 468 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion 84 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion 84?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by suspension (10.9%).
Does the 2010 Fortwo Passion 84 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.6% in the 30-60k band to 26.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 468 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.