Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto MOT Failures
An analysis of 2,472 real DVSA MOT tests on the Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads.
Where the Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto is fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... — this model is 250 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it an extreme outlier for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 2,472 MOT tests, 8.28% of all Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto tests recorded this as a failure.
Bodywork failures usually mean structural corrosion — not cosmetic rust, but rot that affects the car's structural integrity. Check sills, subframes, and chassis rails carefully, especially on older examples.
Other notable weak points include light unit fault (15x the fleet average), electrical wiring fault (11x the fleet average), and suspension pin, bush or joint worn (7.6x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 3 categories: Bodywork, Lights & Electrics, Suspension. If you're inspecting a Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
The standout failure at this mileage is fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... at 250x the fleet average.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... (55x the average) and light unit fault (15x). electrical wiring fault (11x) and suspension pin, bush or joint worn (7.6x) also appear frequently.
Found a Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto you like?
Check its dealer service history before you commit.
£6.99 · Full refund if no records found
What to check before buying a Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto:
Bodywork — check for fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective .... Lights & Electrics — check for light unit fault, electrical wiring fault. Suspension — check for suspension pin, bush or joint worn.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Check this Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto's service history
See every franchised dealer visit, dates, mileage readings, and work done. Know whether the maintenance that prevents these MOT failures was actually done.
£6.99 · Full refund if no records found
Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto?
Based on 2,472 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... — at 250x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include light unit fault and electrical wiring fault.
Is the Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto reliable based on MOT data?
The Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto has 4 categories where it fails more often than average. The main concern is fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective .... Always check a specific car's full history before buying.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
The most common high-mileage failures include fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ..., light unit fault, electrical wiring fault.
How do I check a Smart Fortwo Passion 71 Auto's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.