2010 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,192 MOT tests, the 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd recorded a 78.5% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (24.4% fail rate), the 2010 Fortwo Passion Mhd comes out 2.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.7%) and suspension (11.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 123 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2010 Fortwo Passion Mhd fails 19.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 20.2% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 279 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.3% | 247 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.8% | 170 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.9% | 107 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 96 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 78 |
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 | 123 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 119 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 118 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 114 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 83 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 82 |
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 | 23.6% | 517 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.4% | 448 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.1% | 286 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 132 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.0% | 131 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 83 |
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 | 211 | 19.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,005 | 21.0% |
| 60-90k | 790 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 173 | 20.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 465 | 23.2% |
| 2022 | 452 | 19.9% |
| 2023 | 440 | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 425 | 19.8% |
| 2025 | 410 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Fortwo Passion Mhd
On a 2010 Fortwo Passion Mhd, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.3% 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 (7.8% 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 Mhds pass their MOT?
78.5% of the 2,192 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.7% of tests, followed by suspension (11.3%).
Does the 2010 Fortwo Passion Mhd get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.0% in the 0-30k band to 20.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,192 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.