2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto Unclassified — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,734 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto Unclassified, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 82.4% was above the average for cars of a similar age (79.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 20.8% in the 120-150k group versus 13.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 517 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.2% | 354 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 251 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.3% | 247 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 245 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 161 |
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 | 225 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 205 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 197 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 174 |
| 5 | Wipers | 162 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 147 |
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 | 23.4% | 1,342 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.2% | 1,332 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.9% | 339 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.7% | 329 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 208 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 201 |
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 | 1,054 | 13.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,925 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,489 | 20.1% |
| 90-120k | 204 | 20.1% |
| 120-150k | 53 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,126 | 15.8% |
| 2022 | 1,126 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 1,167 | 17.7% |
| 2024 | 1,162 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 1,153 | 19.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Unclassified
Before buying a 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto Unclassified, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 9.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (9.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.2% 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.
- Suspension (4.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto Unclassifieds pass their MOT?
82.4% of the 5,734 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto Unclassified MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto Unclassified?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.0% of tests, followed by brakes (6.2%).
Does the 2012 Unclassified get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.1% in the 0-30k band to 20.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,734 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.