2009 Smart Fortwo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Smart Fortwo passed 78.3% of its 5,682 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.1 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.4%) and suspension (10.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and service brake performance — coil spring alone was recorded 353 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.1% once past 120-150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.8pp more often than petrol ones (24.1% vs 21.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 707 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.2% | 580 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 456 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.2% | 236 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 215 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 190 |
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 | 353 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 299 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 275 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 253 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 209 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 147 |
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 | 27.0% | 1,535 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.7% | 1,288 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.6% | 886 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 399 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 398 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.0% | 342 |
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 | 421 | 18.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,394 | 20.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,088 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 628 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 122 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,730 | 21.2% |
| Diesel | 952 | 24.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,204 | 21.5% |
| 2022 | 1,167 | 20.9% |
| 2023 | 1,154 | 21.0% |
| 2024 | 1,099 | 21.9% |
| 2025 | 1,058 | 23.3% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Fortwo
On a 2009 Fortwo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.2% 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 (8.0% 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 2009 Smart Fortwos pass their MOT?
78.3% of the 5,682 2009 Smart Fortwo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Smart Fortwo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.4% of tests, followed by suspension (10.2%).
Does the 2009 Fortwo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.1% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,682 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.