2010 Smart Fortwo — MOT failures & pass rate
4,596 MOT tests on the 2010 Smart Fortwo are in this dataset, and 77.8% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail 24.3% of the time, so this is 2.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.4%) and suspension (10.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, service brake performance and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 322 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.4% once past 120-150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.0pp more often than petrol ones (24.6% vs 21.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 525 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.8% | 497 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.3% | 379 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 201 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.3% | 197 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 162 |
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 | 322 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 277 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 214 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 192 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 172 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 158 |
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 | 24.1% | 1,108 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.5% | 1,081 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.4% | 663 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 269 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 252 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 229 |
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 | 424 | 17.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,853 | 20.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,726 | 24.6% |
| 90-120k | 477 | 22.2% |
| 120-150k | 102 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,675 | 21.6% |
| Diesel | 921 | 24.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 925 | 21.5% |
| 2022 | 947 | 22.7% |
| 2023 | 966 | 23.2% |
| 2024 | 905 | 22.1% |
| 2025 | 853 | 21.4% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Fortwo
On a 2010 Fortwo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.8% 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 (8.3% 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 2010 Smart Fortwos pass their MOT?
77.8% of the 4,596 2010 Smart Fortwo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Smart Fortwo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.4% of tests, followed by suspension (10.8%).
Does the 2010 Fortwo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.7% in the 0-30k band to 30.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,596 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.