2012 Smart Fortwo Passion — MOT failures & pass rate
765 MOT tests on the 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion are in this dataset, and 81.4% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 3.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.1%) and brakes (6.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 36 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.5% in the 0-30k band and 20.9% in the 90-120k band, a 5.4-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 22.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.1% in 2021 to 18.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 62 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.3% | 48 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.9% | 45 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.7% | 36 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.3% | 33 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 30 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 36 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 26 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 24 |
| 5 | Washers | 19 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 18 |
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 | 22.4% | 171 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.8% | 159 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.8% | 52 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 49 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.8% | 44 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 24 |
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 | 116 | 15.5% |
| 30-60k | 344 | 18.6% |
| 60-90k | 190 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 91 | 20.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 470 | 22.1% |
| Petrol | 295 | 12.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 159 | 20.1% |
| 2022 | 157 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 155 | 19.4% |
| 2024 | 152 | 18.4% |
| 2025 | 142 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Fortwo Passion
On a 2012 Fortwo Passion, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.3% 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 (5.9% 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 2012 Smart Fortwo Passions pass their MOT?
81.4% of the 765 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by brakes (6.3%).
Does the 2012 Fortwo Passion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.5% in the 0-30k band to 20.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 765 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.