2011 Smart Fortwo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,870 MOT tests, the 2011 Smart Fortwo recorded an 80.7% pass rate. That is 3.3 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.2%) and brakes (7.0%) 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 200 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.6% in the 0-30k band and 30.9% in the 120-150k band, a 17.3-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 19.1% fail against 20.8% for diesel, a 1.7-point gap across 3,870 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.6% 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 | 9.2% | 354 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 269 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.7% | 261 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.5% | 173 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 123 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 117 |
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 | 200 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 177 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 153 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 113 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 96 |
| 6 | Wipers | 87 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.6% | 874 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.1% | 740 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 271 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.2% | 200 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 166 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 141 |
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 | 455 | 13.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,844 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,205 | 21.7% |
| 90-120k | 278 | 21.2% |
| 120-150k | 68 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,370 | 19.1% |
| Diesel | 500 | 20.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 797 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 781 | 18.9% |
| 2023 | 795 | 19.9% |
| 2024 | 745 | 18.4% |
| 2025 | 752 | 20.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Fortwo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.0% 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.
- Suspension (6.7% 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.
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 2011 Smart Fortwos pass their MOT?
80.7% of the 3,870 2011 Smart Fortwo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Smart Fortwo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by brakes (7.0%).
Does the 2011 Fortwo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.6% in the 0-30k band to 30.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,870 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.