Smart Smart Passion Softouch MOT pass rate & common failures
The Smart Smart Passion Softouch appears in 1,076 MOT tests spanning model years 2001–2004, and 72.6% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 27.6%, so the Smart Passion Softouch sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, visibility and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.5% of tests against 11.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and washers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 139 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.7% once past 120-150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.8% in 2021 to 24.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Smart Passion Softouch model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 645 | 73.2% | 26.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 423 | 71.6% | 28.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.5% | 231 |
| 2 | Visibility | 11.4% | 123 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 9.4% | 101 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.7% | 94 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.4% | 80 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 77 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.2% | 45 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.6% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 139 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 134 |
| 3 | Washers | 97 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 76 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 53 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 49 |
| 7 | Wipers | 47 |
| 8 | Coil spring | 39 |
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 | 31.4% | 338 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.7% | 244 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.5% | 221 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 185 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.2% | 153 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.1% | 130 |
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 | 64 | 25.0% |
| 30-60k | 307 | 29.6% |
| 60-90k | 408 | 23.8% |
| 90-120k | 219 | 30.1% |
| 120-150k | 52 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 291 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 257 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 220 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 167 | 23.9% |
| 2025 | 141 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a Smart Smart Passion Softouch
- Lighting & signalling (21.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (11.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (9.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Smart Smart Passion Softouch?
72.6% of the 1,076 Smart Smart Passion Softouch MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.4% fail rate, across model years 2001–2004.
What does the Smart Smart Passion Softouch most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.5% of tests, then visibility (11.4%).
How much does mileage affect Smart Passion Softouch MOT results?
Fail rates run at 25.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 32.7% for 120-150k, a 7.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,076 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.