Smart (Mcc) Fortwo
From 38,282 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Fortwos fare better: 2019 models pass at 90.1% vs 75.2% for 2013.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged and wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen. The top issue, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, caused 706 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 706 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 587 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 549 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 451 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 355 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 322 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 285 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 284 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 251 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 222 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 40.2% of failures are serious: 33.9% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 6.3% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £91.
Fuel type matters
Electric versions pass at 88.8% while Diesel versions pass at 80.4%, a 8 percentage point gap.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 90.1% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2018 | 87.2% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2017 | 84.6% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2016 | 82.1% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
3 earlier years
| 2015 | 81.8% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 2014 | 81.7% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2013 | 75.2% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Fortwos tested had between 20,874 and 46,822 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 31,933 median miles, the Fortwo has 0.051 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Smart (Mcc) models
Common questions
What is the Smart (Mcc) Fortwo MOT pass rate?
The Smart (Mcc) Fortwo has a 83.7% MOT pass rate based on 38,282 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Smart (Mcc) Fortwo?
The most common MOT failure on the Smart (Mcc) Fortwo is tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, which caused 706 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
What is the typical mileage of a Smart (Mcc) Fortwo at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Smart (Mcc) Fortwo is 31,933 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 20,874 and 46,822 miles.
Buying a used Fortwo?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 83.7% pass rate and an average repair bill of £91 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.