2010 Smart Fortwo Passion — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 317 MOT tests, the 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion recorded an 80.8% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), the 2010 Fortwo Passion comes out 5.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.5%) and suspension (9.5%) 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 14 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 24.6% versus 16.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.1% 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% | 30 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.5% | 30 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.0% | 19 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 8 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 8 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.5% | 8 |
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 | 14 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 12 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 9 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 7 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 7 |
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 | 24.3% | 77 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.8% | 69 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.4% | 36 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.8% | 31 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.6% | 21 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 15 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 122 | 16.4% |
| 60-90k | 104 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 61 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 274 | 19.0% |
| Petrol | 43 | 20.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 18.8% |
| 2022 | 64 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 66 | 19.7% |
| 2024 | 60 | 18.3% |
| 2025 | 58 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Fortwo Passion
On a 2010 Fortwo Passion, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Suspension (9.5% 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.
- Brakes (6.0% 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 Passions pass their MOT?
80.8% of the 317 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by suspension (9.5%).
Does the 2010 Fortwo Passion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.4% in the 30-60k band to 24.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 317 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.