2016 Smart Fortwo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Smart Fortwo passed 87.4% of its 32,223 recorded MOT tests. Against city cars of a similar age (13.7% fail rate), the 2016 Fortwo comes out 1.1pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.6%) and lighting & signalling (4.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, catalyst emissions and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 1,058 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.7% in the 0-30k band and 32.4% in the 120-150k band, a 23.8-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 1,487 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 1,480 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.4% | 1,431 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.3% | 1,057 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 973 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.4% | 766 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,058 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 731 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 729 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 697 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 685 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 599 |
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 | 22.1% | 7,137 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.5% | 4,677 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 1,581 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.8% | 1,556 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 1,178 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 966 |
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 | 15,191 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 13,624 | 14.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,884 | 21.1% |
| 90-120k | 416 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 74 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,246 | 9.0% |
| 2022 | 6,397 | 11.0% |
| 2023 | 6,473 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 6,512 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 6,595 | 15.4% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Fortwo
On a 2016 Fortwo, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2016 Smart Fortwos pass their MOT?
87.4% of the 32,223 2016 Smart Fortwo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Smart Fortwo?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.6%).
Does the 2016 Fortwo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,223 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.