2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd — MOT failures & pass rate
2,574 MOT tests on the 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd are in this dataset, and 82.8% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (21.7% fail rate), the 2012 Fortwo Passion Mhd comes out 4.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.6% of all tests — 3.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, service brake performance and headlamp aim — headlamp alone was recorded 107 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.7% versus 10.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 248 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.4% | 165 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.8% | 123 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.3% | 110 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 102 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 68 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 107 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 101 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 101 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 93 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 72 |
| 6 | Wipers | 64 |
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 | 23.7% | 611 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.4% | 498 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.1% | 130 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.8% | 124 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 112 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 87 |
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 | 396 | 10.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,335 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 690 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 135 | 26.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 518 | 14.7% |
| 2022 | 515 | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 513 | 17.2% |
| 2024 | 509 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 519 | 19.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Fortwo Passion Mhd
On a 2012 Fortwo Passion Mhd, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.4% 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.
- Suspension (4.8% 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.
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 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhds pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 2,574 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.6% of tests, followed by brakes (6.4%).
Does the 2012 Fortwo Passion Mhd get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.6% in the 0-30k band to 26.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,574 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.