MOT fail rates by first-use year
2008 Smart Fortwo MOT fail rate and common faults
How Smart Fortwo cars first used in 2008 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 19,594 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 17 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 17 years old, Smart Fortwo cars first used in 2008 failed 37.3% of MOTs (4,553 tests), 5.8 points below the 43.1% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 14 to 17 years old, the fail rate moved from 36.5% to 37.3%.
- Smart Fortwo cars first used a year earlier, in 2007, failed 39.8% at the same age of 17 years (2,796 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Smart Fortwo at 17 years, is coil spring broken, at 5.3 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 3.5).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 14 years | 36.5% | 5,193 | 40.3% | −3.8 pts |
| 2023 | 15 years | 37.7% | 5,047 | 41.6% | −3.9 pts |
| 2024 | 16 years | 37.4% | 4,801 | 42.6% | −5.2 pts |
| 2025 | 17 years | 37.3% | 4,553 | 43.1% | −5.8 pts |
Most common faults at 17 years
These figures cover all Smart Fortwo MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=11,415). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Brake light not working Wear | 5.4 | 4.0 |
| Coil spring broken | 5.3 | 3.5 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 5.1 | 5.8 |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear | 4.2 | 3.6 |
| Dipped headlight not working Wear | 3.8 | 2.2 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear | 3.7 | 2.4 |
| Engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault | 3.0 | 2.2 |
| Suspension ball joint worn | 2.5 | 2.4 |
| Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits | 2.4 | 1.2 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 2.4 | 2.8 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=11,415). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 15.3 | 10.5 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 11.9 | 9.6 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 11.1 | 17.9 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 7.9 | 11.3 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 6.6 | 11.7 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 5.5 | 7.5 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 4.6 | 6.6 |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Wear | 4.0 | 5.1 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear | 3.4 | 5.9 |
| Suspension ball joint: slight play | 3.3 | 2.5 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=11,415). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 17 years
These figures cover all Smart Fortwo MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=11,415). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 100.0% | 39.3% | 11,393 | 43.2% | 66,792 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 17 years
These figures cover all Smart Fortwo MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=11,415). At 17 years, Smart Fortwo cars at 90,000 to 120,000 miles failed more often (43.5%, n=1,785) than those at 30,000 to 60,000 miles (36.6%, n=3,860). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30,000 to 60,000 miles | 36.6% | 3,860 | 32.5% |
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 41.2% | 4,576 | 41.7% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 43.5% | 1,785 | 46.2% |
Car tax rules for a 2008 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2008 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Smart Fortwo
More on the Smart Fortwo
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2008 Smart Fortwo cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.