2012 Smart Fortwo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,263 MOT tests, the 2012 Smart Fortwo recorded an 83.4% pass rate. That is 4.3 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.9%) and brakes (5.7%) 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 83 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.6% versus 10.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 179 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.7% | 130 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.0% | 114 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.8% | 108 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 76 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 61 |
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 | 83 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 82 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 74 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 72 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 72 |
| 6 | Wipers | 49 |
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 | 22.7% | 513 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.1% | 500 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.5% | 125 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.9% | 111 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 69 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 60 |
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 | 393 | 10.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,179 | 16.6% |
| 60-90k | 580 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 97 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,127 | 16.4% |
| Diesel | 136 | 19.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 450 | 15.3% |
| 2022 | 464 | 16.0% |
| 2023 | 460 | 17.0% |
| 2024 | 453 | 18.8% |
| 2025 | 436 | 15.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Fortwo
On a 2012 Fortwo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.7% 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.
- Tyres (5.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2012 Smart Fortwos pass their MOT?
83.4% of the 2,263 2012 Smart Fortwo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Smart Fortwo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by brakes (5.7%).
Does the 2012 Fortwo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 0-30k band to 18.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,263 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.