2008 Smart Fortwo — MOT failures & pass rate
5,434 MOT tests on the 2008 Smart Fortwo are in this dataset, and 77.7% of them passed. Against city cars of a similar age (27.1% fail rate), the 2008 Fortwo comes out 4.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.2% of tests against 9.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and position lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 297 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.3% versus 14.8%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.5% 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 | 14.2% | 771 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.8% | 535 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 415 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 228 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 224 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.0% | 220 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 297 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 269 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 239 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 225 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 223 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 216 |
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 | 26.5% | 1,439 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.9% | 1,351 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.6% | 850 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 478 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.3% | 343 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 231 |
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 | 311 | 14.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,183 | 21.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,142 | 24.0% |
| 90-120k | 652 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 116 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 30 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,128 | 21.8% |
| 2022 | 1,125 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 1,133 | 23.7% |
| 2024 | 1,049 | 22.6% |
| 2025 | 999 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Fortwo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.8% 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.
- Brakes (7.6% 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 2008 Smart Fortwos pass their MOT?
77.7% of the 5,434 2008 Smart Fortwo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Smart Fortwo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.2% of tests, followed by suspension (9.8%).
Does the 2008 Fortwo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,434 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.