2005 Smart Fortwo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Smart Fortwo passed 73.1% of its 1,286 recorded MOT tests. Against city cars of a similar age (29.4% fail rate), the 2005 Fortwo comes out 2.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.5% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 134 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.4% versus 20.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 32.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 225 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.0% | 155 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.6% | 111 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.9% | 102 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.2% | 93 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.9% | 50 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 134 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 108 |
| 3 | Washers | 85 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 78 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 73 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 73 |
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 | 32.0% | 411 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.6% | 342 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.7% | 292 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 174 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.0% | 141 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.4% | 121 |
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 | 70 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 435 | 25.1% |
| 60-90k | 554 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 183 | 30.0% |
| 120-150k | 34 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 306 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 289 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 258 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 227 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 206 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Fortwo
On a 2005 Fortwo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.0% 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.
- Visibility (8.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2005 Smart Fortwos pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 1,286 2005 Smart Fortwo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Smart Fortwo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests, followed by suspension (12.0%).
Does the 2005 Fortwo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,286 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.