2011 · 13 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2011 Smart Fortwo MOT pass rate and common faults

683 MOT tests in 2024. 65.7% passed first time, compared with 61.8% for all cars the same age.

106Above average
Passed first time65.7%
Failed or needed repairs34.3%
Typical mileage at test60,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 683 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.1%
  2. Service brake performance: excessively binding4.5%
  3. Stop lamp: not working4.2%
  4. Position lamp: not working3.7%
  5. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.5%
  6. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.2%
  7. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%
    23 marked dangerous
  8. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.8%
  9. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics23.3%
  2. Brakes12.2%
  3. Suspension10.1%
  4. Emissions & leaks7.6%
  5. Tyres6.0%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.3%
  7. Body & chassis3.8%
  8. Wheels0.7%

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 structure13.8%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm12.3%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded7.3%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick5.4%
  5. Service brake performance: excessively binding4.4%

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 2011 Smart Fortwo?

In 2024, 65.7% of 2011 Smart Fortwo cars passed their MOT first time, across 683 tests. The average for all 13-year-old cars was 61.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2011 Smart Fortwo?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; service brake performance: excessively binding; stop lamp: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2011 Smart Fortwo reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 106, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).