Is the Smart (mcc) Fortwo reliable?

On MOT evidence the Smart (mcc) Fortwo is below average. It passes 68.0% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%. That figure covers 80% of the national age and mileage range, which is enough to quote but not to rank. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

The item recorded most often is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", which appears in 16.7% of failed Smart (mcc) Fortwo tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.

What do testers most often warn about on a Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

The most common advisory is "A tyre seriously damaged", noted on 21.0% of all Smart (mcc) Fortwo tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Smart (mcc) Fortwo usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 54,025 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Which Smart (mcc) Fortwo years are the most reliable?

Going by MOT pass rate, Smart (mcc) Fortwo cars first registered 2017–2019 do best at 82.2%, and those registered 2010 and earlier do worst at 63.1%. But that ordering is mostly age, not build year: almost every model passes less often as it wears, so the newest cars top this list whatever they are. A specific year looking strong here means little on its own; the failure items above, and the individual car's own MOT history, tell you far more.

Does a Smart (mcc) Fortwo get harder to pass as it ages?

Yes. At 6 to 8 years old, 82.2% of Smart (mcc) Fortwo tests pass. By fifteen years or more, that falls to 63.1%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.

Are most Smart (mcc) Fortwo models petrol or diesel?

Of the Smart (mcc) Fortwo cars tested, 91% are petrol, 7% are diesel, 2% are electric. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

Model reliability file

Smart (mcc) Fortwo MOT pass rate & common failures

From 43,626 recorded MOT tests of the Smart (mcc) Fortwo, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

The Smart (mcc) Fortwo passes 68.0% of MOT tests once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, against a national average of 72.3%. That is below average. Based on 43,626 tests. Its most commonly recorded failure is spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, which appears in 16.7% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 54,025 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage

68.0%national average72.3%unadjusted71.8%range covered80%

The Fortwo is 4.3 percentage points below the national pass rate once age and mileage are accounted for, which is below average. The unadjusted figure is 71.8%; the difference is what the age and mileage of this model’s fleet was hiding.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Smart (mcc) Fortwo tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened16.7%
1,590 occurrencesRoad spring broken or fractured explained
2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements11.0%
1,052 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
3.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen9.1%
865 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
4.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning8.7%
827 occurrencesLamp not working explained
5.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake8.4%
801 occurrencesBrake binding or imbalanced across an axle explained
6.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning8.3%
788 occurrencesStop lamp not working explained
7.Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer7.4%
700 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained
8.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements7.3%
695 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained
9.Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction7.2%
685 occurrencesEngine management light on, or not working explained
10.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn6.6%
631 occurrencesSuspension arm bush worn explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Smart (mcc) Fortwo tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.A tyre seriously damaged21.0%
9,164 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements17.0%
7,413 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
3.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded11.5%
5,011 testsBrake pipe corroded explained
4.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured8.0%
3,487 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
5.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm5.9%
2,577 testsBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
6.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users4.0%
1,742 tests
7.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened3.4%
1,489 testsRoad spring broken or fractured explained
8.Number plate inscription missing or illegible3.3%
1,428 testsRegistration plate missing, insecure or illegible explained

The rest of the record

Everything else recorded on the Smart (mcc) Fortwo

The 14 other defects testers recorded on this model, beyond the most common listed above. Each links to what it means and what it takes to put right.

Known faults

Smart (mcc) Fortwo common problems, by part and by year

The same failure record read the way a buyer asks the question: which parts wear out on a Fortwo, when they start, and how each registration year compares — including the steps that mark a generation change.

Fortwo common problems and results by year

How wear changes the picture

Fortwo pass rate by age and registration year

How often the Smart (mcc) Fortwo passes at each age, with the years those cars were first registered. Tests are from 2025, so a car aged 6 to 8 was first used in 2017–2019.

6–8 yrsreg. 2017–201982%

9–11 yrsreg. 2014–201676%

12–14 yrsreg. 2011–201370%

15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier63%

Read this as an age curve rather than a verdict on particular model years. Nearly every car passes less often as it gets older, so a newer Fortwo outscoring an older one says more about wear than about how that year’s cars were built. Bands holding too few tests to be meaningful are omitted rather than shown as a rate.

What gets tested

The Fortwo fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 54,025
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol91.3%
Diesel6.6%
Electric2.0%

Trim names grouped into this model (17)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

FORTWO CABRIOLET
FORTWO CABRIOLET BRABUS
FORTWO COUPE
FORTWO COUPE NIGHT ORANGE MHD
FORTWO COUPE PASSION
FORTWO COUPE PULSE
FORTWO MHD
FORTWO PASSION 71 AUTO
FORTWO PASSION 84 AUTO
FORTWO PASSION CABRIO 45BHP
FORTWO PASSION CDI AUTO
FORTWO PASSION COUPE
FORTWO PASSION MDH
FORTWO PASSION MHD AUTO
FORTWO PRIME
FORTWO PULSE CDI AUTO
FORTWO PULSE MHD AUTO

Check a specific Smart (mcc) Fortwo

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Smart (mcc) models

Smart (mcc) Forfour — 64.8% adjusted
Smart (mcc) City — 60.1% unadjusted
Smart (mcc) Roadster — 74.1% unadjusted
Smart (mcc) Cabriolet — 63.6% unadjusted
All Smart (mcc) models

Similar test volumes

Compare against other makes

Jaguar XE — 82.0% adjusted, ranked 39
Suzuki Alto — 58.8% adjusted, ranked 258
Volkswagen Scirocco — 72.2% adjusted, ranked 147
Fiat Doblo — 65.4% adjusted, ranked 218

Common questions

Is the Smart (mcc) Fortwo reliable?: On MOT evidence the Smart (mcc) Fortwo is below average. It passes 68.0% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%. That figure covers 80% of the national age and mileage range, which is enough to quote but not to rank. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Smart (mcc) Fortwo?: The item recorded most often is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", which appears in 16.7% of failed Smart (mcc) Fortwo tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Smart (mcc) Fortwo?: The most common advisory is "A tyre seriously damaged", noted on 21.0% of all Smart (mcc) Fortwo tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Smart (mcc) Fortwo usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 54,025 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.
Which Smart (mcc) Fortwo years are the most reliable?: Going by MOT pass rate, Smart (mcc) Fortwo cars first registered 2017–2019 do best at 82.2%, and those registered 2010 and earlier do worst at 63.1%. But that ordering is mostly age, not build year: almost every model passes less often as it wears, so the newest cars top this list whatever they are. A specific year looking strong here means little on its own; the failure items above, and the individual car's own MOT history, tell you far more.
Does a Smart (mcc) Fortwo get harder to pass as it ages?: Yes. At 6 to 8 years old, 82.2% of Smart (mcc) Fortwo tests pass. By fifteen years or more, that falls to 63.1%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.
Are most Smart (mcc) Fortwo models petrol or diesel?: Of the Smart (mcc) Fortwo cars tested, 91% are petrol, 7% are diesel, 2% are electric. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. The adjusted rate is directly standardised across twenty-five age and mileage bands and reweighted onto the national distribution, so this model is compared against cars that have lived a similar life rather than against a younger or lighter-used fleet.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.