Smart Fortwo Passion MOT pass rate & common failures
The Smart Fortwo Passion appears in 4,397 MOT tests spanning model years 2002–2014, and 80.1% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (22.3% fail rate), the Fortwo Passion comes out 2.3pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.3%) and brakes (6.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, service brake performance and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 196 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.8% in the 0-30k band and 21.4% in the 120-150k band, a 5.5-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 16.5% fail against 21.3% for diesel, a 4.8-point gap across 4,397 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Fortwo Passion model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 822 | 76.4% | 23.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 317 | 80.8% | 19.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 899 | 80.3% | 19.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 765 | 81.4% | 18.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 1,567 | 81.4% | 18.6% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 411 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.8% | 299 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.5% | 286 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.7% | 208 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 191 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 157 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 81 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.3% | 14 |
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 | 196 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 181 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 170 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 143 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 120 |
| 6 | Wipers | 105 |
| 7 | Stop lamp | 105 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 101 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 23.3% | 1,023 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.9% | 1,009 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.1% | 399 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 363 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.3% | 277 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 183 |
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 | 537 | 15.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,785 | 19.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,329 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 611 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 117 | 21.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,134 | 21.3% |
| Petrol | 1,263 | 16.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 917 | 19.1% |
| 2022 | 914 | 19.3% |
| 2023 | 906 | 20.2% |
| 2024 | 848 | 20.1% |
| 2025 | 812 | 21.1% |
What to check before buying a Smart Fortwo Passion
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.8% 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.
- Suspension (6.5% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Smart Fortwo Passion?
80.1% of the 4,397 Smart Fortwo Passion MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 19.9% fail rate, across model years 2002–2014.
What does the Smart Fortwo Passion most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests, then brakes (6.8%).
How much does mileage affect Fortwo Passion MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 21.4% for 120-150k, a 5.5-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Fortwo Passion more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 16.5% of the time against 21.3% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,397 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.