2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,804 MOT tests, the 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd recorded an 83.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 20.1% of the time, so this is 3.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.5% of tests against 5.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 259 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.7% once past 120-150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 644 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.8% | 394 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.5% | 305 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.4% | 300 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.1% | 282 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 179 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 259 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 245 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 219 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 209 |
| 5 | Wipers | 203 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 197 |
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 | 24.4% | 1,660 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.2% | 1,445 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 468 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.3% | 364 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.3% | 289 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 240 |
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 | 1,785 | 13.2% |
| 30-60k | 3,436 | 16.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,303 | 20.9% |
| 90-120k | 219 | 26.9% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,347 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 1,356 | 15.0% |
| 2023 | 1,379 | 17.7% |
| 2024 | 1,372 | 18.1% |
| 2025 | 1,350 | 18.4% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Fortwo Passion Mhd
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.8% 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.
- Tyres (4.5% 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.
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 Mhds pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 6,804 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by brakes (5.8%).
Does the 2013 Fortwo Passion Mhd get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.2% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,804 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.