2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto Unclassified — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,620 MOT tests analysed for the 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto Unclassified, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 82.7% was above the average for cars of a similar age (80.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.3% in the 120-150k group versus 14.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 352 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 244 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.6% | 168 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.9% | 141 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 139 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 79 |
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 | 154 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 138 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 130 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 127 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 101 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 95 |
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 | 22.5% | 814 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.4% | 739 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 228 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.6% | 165 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.1% | 148 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 133 |
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 | 809 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,919 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 676 | 22.8% |
| 90-120k | 179 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 33 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 710 | 13.4% |
| 2022 | 733 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 721 | 16.8% |
| 2024 | 724 | 19.3% |
| 2025 | 732 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Unclassified
Before buying a 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto Unclassified, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 9.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.7% 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 (4.6% 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 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto Unclassifieds pass their MOT?
82.7% of the 3,620 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto Unclassified MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto Unclassified?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by brakes (6.7%).
Does the 2013 Unclassified get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 0-30k band to 27.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,620 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.