2013 Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Mhd — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Mhd passed 84.9% of its 1,056 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.4%) and tyres (6.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 50 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.0% once past 60-90k — 2.9× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 89 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.4% | 68 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.6% | 49 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 48 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 25 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.1% | 22 |
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 | 50 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 34 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 34 |
| 4 | Washers | 32 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 22 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 21 |
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 | 21.9% | 231 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.0% | 190 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.6% | 80 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.8% | 40 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 29 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.6% | 27 |
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 | 397 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 461 | 18.0% |
| 60-90k | 178 | 23.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 212 | 13.2% |
| 2022 | 204 | 11.8% |
| 2023 | 217 | 15.2% |
| 2024 | 212 | 17.4% |
| 2025 | 211 | 17.5% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Fortwo Pure 61 Mhd
On a 2013 Fortwo Pure 61 Mhd, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.4% 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.
- Brakes (4.6% 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 2013 Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Mhds pass their MOT?
84.9% of the 1,056 2013 Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Mhd MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Mhd?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by tyres (6.4%).
Does the 2013 Fortwo Pure 61 Mhd get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,056 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.