2011 Smart Fortwo Passion — MOT failures & pass rate
899 MOT tests on the 2011 Smart Fortwo Passion are in this dataset, and 80.3% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (23.2% fail rate), the 2011 Fortwo Passion comes out 3.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.3%) and suspension (8.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and service brake performance — coil spring alone was recorded 66 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.3% once past 90-120k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 84 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.7% | 78 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.6% | 59 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.5% | 40 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 32 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 32 |
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 | 66 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 41 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 36 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 28 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 27 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 27 |
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 | 24.1% | 217 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.4% | 183 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 87 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 75 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 46 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.6% | 41 |
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 | 72 | 19.4% |
| 30-60k | 381 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 322 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 99 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 612 | 20.1% |
| Petrol | 287 | 18.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 182 | 16.5% |
| 2022 | 181 | 16.0% |
| 2023 | 183 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 186 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 167 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Fortwo Passion
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.3% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Suspension (8.7% 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 (6.6% 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 2011 Smart Fortwo Passions pass their MOT?
80.3% of the 899 2011 Smart Fortwo Passion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Smart Fortwo Passion?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by suspension (8.7%).
Does the 2011 Fortwo Passion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 0-30k band to 27.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 899 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.