2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 594 MOT tests analysed for the 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes. Its pass rate of 84.0% was above the average for cars of a similar age (81.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 26.7% in the 90-120k group versus 16.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 50 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.4% | 32 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.9% | 29 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.2% | 25 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 16 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 22 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 19 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 19 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 6 | Washers | 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 | 21.0% | 125 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.2% | 120 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.2% | 43 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.2% | 43 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.1% | 30 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 26 |
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 | 175 | 16.0% |
| 30-60k | 285 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 104 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 30 | 26.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 122 | 16.4% |
| 2022 | 127 | 18.9% |
| 2023 | 114 | 12.3% |
| 2024 | 117 | 15.4% |
| 2025 | 114 | 16.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Fortwo Passion Auto
Before buying a 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 8.4% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (8.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (4.9% 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 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Autos pass their MOT?
84.0% of the 594 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by tyres (5.4%).
Does the 2013 Fortwo Passion Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.0% in the 0-30k band to 26.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 594 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.