2007 Smart Fortwo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,547 MOT tests, the 2007 Smart Fortwo recorded a 77.4% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 28.1% of the time, so this is 5.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.1% of all tests — 6.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 99 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.8% versus 15.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 249 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.1% | 156 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.3% | 113 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 65 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 64 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.8% | 59 |
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 | 99 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 92 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 78 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 73 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 55 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 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 | 27.4% | 424 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.4% | 331 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.6% | 287 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 137 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.9% | 122 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 103 |
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 | 102 | 15.7% |
| 30-60k | 584 | 21.6% |
| 60-90k | 591 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 225 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 335 | 21.2% |
| 2022 | 332 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 322 | 25.2% |
| 2024 | 289 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 269 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Fortwo
On a 2007 Fortwo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.1% 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 (7.3% 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.
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 2007 Smart Fortwos pass their MOT?
77.4% of the 1,547 2007 Smart Fortwo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Smart Fortwo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by suspension (10.1%).
Does the 2007 Fortwo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.7% in the 0-30k band to 25.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,547 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.