2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Cdi Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 966 MOT tests analysed for the 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Cdi Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension. Its pass rate of 79.9% was below the average for cars of a similar age (81.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.5% in the 90-120k group versus 13.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 7.8% | 75 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 74 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.5% | 53 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.8% | 46 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 46 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 30 |
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 | 46 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 44 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 42 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 37 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 27 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 26 |
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 | 26.6% | 257 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.7% | 229 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 75 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.1% | 69 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 45 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.7% | 36 |
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 | 134 | 13.4% |
| 30-60k | 436 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 311 | 22.2% |
| 90-120k | 69 | 27.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 195 | 15.9% |
| 2022 | 206 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 209 | 23.0% |
| 2024 | 174 | 17.8% |
| 2025 | 182 | 21.4% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Fortwo Passion Cdi Auto
Before buying a 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Cdi Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 7.8% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (7.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.5% 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 Cdi Autos pass their MOT?
79.9% of the 966 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Cdi Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion Cdi Auto?
Brakes, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.7%).
Does the 2013 Fortwo Passion Cdi Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.4% in the 0-30k band to 27.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 966 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.