2009 · 15 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2009 Smart Fortwo MOT pass rate and common faults

742 MOT tests in 2024. 63.3% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

108Well above average
Passed first time63.3%
Failed or needed repairs36.7%
Typical mileage at test66,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 742 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.4%
  2. Service brake performance: excessively binding4.3%
  3. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.1%
  4. Position lamp: not working2.7%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.3%
  6. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.2%
  7. Stop lamp: not working2.0%
  8. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.0%
  9. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.9%
  10. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.9%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics22.8%
  2. Suspension14.7%
  3. Brakes12.8%
  4. Emissions & leaks6.5%
  5. Tyres5.9%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.5%
  7. Body & chassis2.2%
  8. Steering0.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded15.4%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure14.3%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm10.4%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine8.2%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.4%

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 2009 Smart Fortwo?

In 2024, 63.3% of 2009 Smart Fortwo cars passed their MOT first time, across 742 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 Smart Fortwo?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; service brake performance: excessively binding; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2009 Smart Fortwo reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 108, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).