2010 · 14 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2010 Smart Fortwo MOT pass rate and common faults

794 MOT tests in 2024. 66.4% passed first time, compared with 59.6% for all cars the same age.

111Well above average
Passed first time66.4%
Failed or needed repairs33.6%
Typical mileage at test64,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 794 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.8%
  2. Service brake performance: excessively binding3.9%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.6%
    38 marked dangerous
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.4%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.3%
  6. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.1%
  7. Position lamp: not working2.1%
  8. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure1.9%
    25 marked dangerous
  9. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.8%
  10. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.8%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics20.8%
  2. Brakes13.7%
  3. Suspension13.5%
  4. Tyres7.6%
  5. Emissions & leaks5.0%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.0%
  7. Body & chassis1.1%
  8. Steering0.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure14.1%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.1%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded9.8%
  4. Service brake performance: excessively binding4.7%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick4.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2010 Smart Fortwo?

In 2024, 66.4% of 2010 Smart Fortwo cars passed their MOT first time, across 794 tests. The average for all 14-year-old cars was 59.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2010 Smart Fortwo?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; service brake performance: excessively binding; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2010 Smart Fortwo reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 111, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).