2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd — MOT failures & pass rate
377 MOT tests on the 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd are in this dataset, and 75.9% of them passed. That is 2.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests against 11.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, coil spring and headlamp — position lamp alone was recorded 35 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2008 Fortwo Passion Mhd fails 23.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 21.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.3 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 57 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.9% | 45 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.5% | 32 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 22 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 21 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.7% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 35 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 24 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 20 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 20 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 18 |
| 6 | Fuel cap/sealing device | 15 |
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 | 25.2% | 95 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.9% | 94 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.8% | 56 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 42 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.0% | 34 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 32 |
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 | 30 | 23.3% |
| 30-60k | 145 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 151 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 38 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81 | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 78 | 24.4% |
| 2023 | 74 | 20.3% |
| 2024 | 78 | 29.5% |
| 2025 | 66 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Fortwo Passion Mhd
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.1% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (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 (8.5% 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 Mhds pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 377 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by suspension (11.9%).
Does the 2008 Fortwo Passion Mhd get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.3% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 377 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.