2012 Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Mhd Auto Unclassified — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,953 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Mhd Auto Unclassified, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres. Its pass rate of 82.6% was above the average for cars of a similar age (79.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 24.7% in the 90-120k group versus 14.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 201 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.3% | 123 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.0% | 118 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.5% | 107 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 54 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.7% | 52 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 90 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 86 |
| 3 | Washers | 74 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 70 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 69 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 59 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 24.3% | 475 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.6% | 422 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 82 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.2% | 82 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.2% | 81 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 81 |
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 | 597 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 981 | 17.1% |
| 60-90k | 285 | 21.8% |
| 90-120k | 77 | 24.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 405 | 17.0% |
| 2022 | 378 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 393 | 15.8% |
| 2024 | 401 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 376 | 17.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Unclassified
Before buying a 2012 Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Mhd Auto Unclassified, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 10.3% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.3% 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 (6.0% 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 2012 Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Mhd Auto Unclassifieds pass their MOT?
82.6% of the 1,953 2012 Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Mhd Auto Unclassified MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Mhd Auto Unclassified?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.3% of tests, followed by brakes (6.3%).
Does the 2012 Unclassified get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 0-30k band to 24.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,953 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.