2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Unclassified — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 424 MOT tests analysed for the 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Unclassified, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres. Its pass rate of 82.5% was above the average for cars of a similar age (81.0%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 28 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.1% | 26 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.0% | 17 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.8% | 16 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 15 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 2 | Wipers | 15 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 11 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 10 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 9 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.8% | 88 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.4% | 78 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 30 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 23 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 12 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 11 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 119 | 11.8% |
| 30-60k | 200 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 85 | 16.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86 | 16.3% |
| 2022 | 83 | 15.7% |
| 2023 | 90 | 17.8% |
| 2024 | 77 | 18.2% |
| 2025 | 88 | 19.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Unclassified
Before buying a 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Unclassified, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 6.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (6.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Tyres (4.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Unclassifieds pass their MOT?
82.5% of the 424 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Unclassified MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Unclassified?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by brakes (6.1%).
Does the 2013 Unclassified get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 0-30k band to 16.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 424 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.