MOT fail rates by first-use year
2015 Smart Fortwo MOT fail rate and common faults
How Smart Fortwo cars first used in 2015 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 8,851 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 10 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 10 years old, Smart Fortwo cars first used in 2015 failed 24.0% of MOTs (2,208 tests), 6.2 points below the 30.3% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 7 to 10 years old, the fail rate moved from 17.0% to 24.0%.
- Smart Fortwo cars first used a year earlier, in 2014, failed 22.7% at the same age of 10 years (3,790 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Smart Fortwo at 10 years, is coil spring broken, at 2.3 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 3.2).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 7 years | 17.0% | 2,219 | 20.6% | −3.6 pts |
| 2023 | 8 years | 21.5% | 2,204 | 23.8% | −2.3 pts |
| 2024 | 9 years | 22.3% | 2,220 | 27.1% | −4.8 pts |
| 2025 | 10 years | 24.0% | 2,208 | 30.3% | −6.2 pts |
Most common faults at 10 years
These figures cover all Smart Fortwo MOTs at 10 years: cars first used 2012 to 2015, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=15,419). 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 | 2.7 | 2.0 |
| Dipped headlight not working Wear | 2.5 | 1.7 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 2.4 | 1.8 |
| Coil spring broken | 2.3 | 3.2 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 2.2 | 2.7 |
| Service brake performance: excessively binding | 1.9 | 0.7 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 1.7 | 2.4 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits | 1.4 | 0.4 |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | 1.2 | 0.5 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=15,419). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 12.1 | 17.0 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 10.2 | 8.6 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 7.5 | 2.8 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 5.1 | 8.1 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 3.4 | 9.6 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 3.2 | 3.4 |
| Service brake performance: binding but not excessively | 2.6 | 1.3 |
| Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view | 1.8 | 2.4 |
| Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre | 1.7 | 1.9 |
| Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases | 1.7 | 1.6 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=15,419). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 10 years
These figures cover all Smart Fortwo MOTs at 10 years: cars first used 2012 to 2015, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=15,419). 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 | 92.2% | 24.5% | 14,222 | 29.5% | 43,297 miles |
| Diesel | 6.6% | 27.9% | 1,023 | 31.4% | 54,554 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 10 years
These figures cover all Smart Fortwo MOTs at 10 years: cars first used 2012 to 2015, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=15,419). At 10 years, Smart Fortwo cars at 60,000 to 90,000 miles failed more often (32.3%, n=3,135) than those at under 30,000 miles (16.7%, n=3,676). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30,000 miles | 16.7% | 3,676 | 15.3% |
| 30,000 to 60,000 miles | 24.5% | 7,837 | 24.7% |
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 32.3% | 3,135 | 31.9% |
Car tax rules for a 2015 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 usually meet Euro 6 when first registered from September 2015. A 2015 diesel can be on either side of that date, so the Euro standard of that car decides.
- 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
Other Smart models first used in 2015
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Forfour (2015) | 10 years in 2025 | 33.8% | 5,445 | 30.3% |
More on the Smart Fortwo
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2015 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.