2006 Smart Fortwo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Smart Fortwo passed 73.5% of its 1,176 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.3 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests against 11.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, stop lamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 134 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.5% in the 0-30k band and 30.8% in the 120-150k band, a 7.2-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 218 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.8% | 139 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.9% | 93 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 79 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.6% | 78 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 57 |
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 | Stop lamp | 69 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 67 |
| 4 | Washers | 64 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 63 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 55 |
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 | 27.5% | 323 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.9% | 305 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.9% | 305 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.3% | 145 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.2% | 144 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 136 |
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 | 68 | 23.5% |
| 30-60k | 440 | 24.6% |
| 60-90k | 446 | 26.5% |
| 90-120k | 166 | 31.3% |
| 120-150k | 39 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 280 | 25.4% |
| 2022 | 262 | 25.6% |
| 2023 | 259 | 30.5% |
| 2024 | 201 | 26.4% |
| 2025 | 174 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Fortwo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.8% 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 (7.9% 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 2006 Smart Fortwos pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 1,176 2006 Smart Fortwo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Smart Fortwo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests, followed by suspension (11.8%).
Does the 2006 Fortwo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.5% in the 0-30k band to 30.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,176 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.