Smart (Mcc) Fortwo Coupe
From 29,007 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Fortwo Coupes fare better: 2012 models pass at 77.7% vs 69.6% for 2004.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, caused 1,083 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.
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 1,083 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 1,031 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 819 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 721 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 558 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 556 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 540 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 504 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 477 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 420 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 23.3% of Fortwo Coupe failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 42.5% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £118.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 77.7% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2011 | 75.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2010 | 73.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2009 | 72.2% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
7 earlier years
| 2008 | 72% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2007 | 70.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2006 | 69.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2005 | 66.4% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2004 | 69.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2003 | 71.3% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2002 | 67.2% | stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a tyre seriously damaged |
Typical mileage
Half of all Fortwo Coupes tested had between 45,551 and 81,222 miles on the clock.
At 65,329 median miles, the Fortwo Coupe has 0.042 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Smart (Mcc) models
Common questions
What is the Smart (Mcc) Fortwo Coupe MOT pass rate?
The Smart (Mcc) Fortwo Coupe has a 72.8% MOT pass rate based on 29,007 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Smart (Mcc) Fortwo Coupe?
The most common MOT failure on the Smart (Mcc) Fortwo Coupe is a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, which caused 1,083 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
What is the typical mileage of a Smart (Mcc) Fortwo Coupe at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Smart (Mcc) Fortwo Coupe is 65,329 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 45,551 and 81,222 miles.
Buying a used Fortwo Coupe?
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 72.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £118 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.