2013 Smart Fortwo 21 Mhd Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,360 MOT tests analysed for the 2013 Smart Fortwo 21 Mhd Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres. Its pass rate of 84.2% was above the average for cars of a similar age (80.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 23.1% in the 90-120k group versus 12.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 136 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.5% | 75 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.4% | 60 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 52 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.3% | 45 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 54 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 54 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 46 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 46 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 39 |
| 6 | Wipers | 32 |
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 | 26.7% | 363 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.9% | 271 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 75 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 63 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 47 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.2% | 44 |
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 | 249 | 12.4% |
| 30-60k | 731 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 325 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 52 | 23.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 267 | 14.2% |
| 2022 | 265 | 13.2% |
| 2023 | 271 | 15.1% |
| 2024 | 280 | 18.2% |
| 2025 | 277 | 18.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Fortwo 21 Mhd Auto
Before buying a 2013 Smart Fortwo 21 Mhd Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 10.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.5% 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 (4.4% 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 21 Mhd Autos pass their MOT?
84.2% of the 1,360 2013 Smart Fortwo 21 Mhd Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Smart Fortwo 21 Mhd Auto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by brakes (5.5%).
Does the 2013 Fortwo 21 Mhd Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.4% in the 0-30k band to 23.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,360 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.