City car · 1999–2020 cars
Smart Fortwo Coupe reliability
The Smart Fortwo Coupe fails 34.8% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage, based on 62,920 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Smart Fortwo Coupe before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 34.8%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 2% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 62,920
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 4,900
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Smart Fortwo Coupe ages
Each point is the share of Smart Fortwo Coupes of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Smart Fortwo Coupe | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 25% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 27.1% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 31.7% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 32.7% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 35.2% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 34.9% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 36.6% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 38.5% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 40.1% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 40.7% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 43.7% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 38.7% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 39% | 41.4% |
By year
The best and worst Smart Fortwo Coupe years
2012 cars come out best and 2005 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Fortwo Coupe | 4,988 | 27% | 2% fewer fails | 49,847 |
| 2011 Fortwo Coupe | 8,272 | 30.8% | 0% more fails | 57,680 |
| 2010 Fortwo Coupe | 12,769 | 34.2% | 3% more fails | 60,903 |
| 2009 Fortwo Coupe | 13,536 | 35.2% | 1% more fails | 62,499 |
| 2008 Fortwo Coupe | 10,865 | 36.6% | 1% more fails | 64,872 |
| 2007 Fortwo Coupe | 5,633 | 38.5% | 4% more fails | 65,320 |
| 2006 Fortwo Coupe | 2,274 | 38.3% | 4% more fails | 63,537 |
| 2005 Fortwo Coupe | 1,762 | 44.4% | 15% more fails | 68,663 |
| 2004 Fortwo Coupe | 1,631 | 40.1% | 5% more fails | 65,784 |
| 2003 | 486 | 39.9% | 0% more fails | 71,122 |
| 2002 | 270 | 44.1% | 17% more fails | 69,474 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Smart Fortwo Coupe
Its weak spot is exhaust, emissions and leaks: 52% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics16.3%13% above avg
- Suspension11.8%2% below avg
- Brakes9.3%16% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks5.8%52% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.8%3% above avg
- Tyres5.4%8% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure3.5%24% below avg
- Steering0.8%65% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.6%43% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken 5.17% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 2
Position lamp not working 3.5% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Stop lamp not working 3.04% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
Dipped beam headlamp not working 3.03% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
- 5
Service brake excessively binding 2.76% of tests
A brake that drags when released can overheat, wear quickly and waste fuel, so it needs prompt inspection.
- 6
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 2.28% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 7
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 2.06% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 8
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 2.05% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Smart Fortwo Coupe's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy11.99%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit10.67%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking9.69%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive4.52%
- Brake pads wearing thin4.44%
- Brake disc pitted or scored3.99%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Smart Fortwo Coupe
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
Dipped beam headlamp not working
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Smart Fortwo Coupe covers about 4,900 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol85.9%
- Diesel14%
- Electric0%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Black, Silver, White, Red, Blue
Average engine size: 0.9 litres.
Compare
How the Smart Fortwo Coupe compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota iQ | 23% | 29% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SEAT Mii | 21.4% | about average for its age |
| Smart Fortwo Coupe | 34.8% | about average for its age |
| Abarth 595 | 18.6% | 16% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Fiat 500C | 31.5% | 27% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Smart Forfour | 25.6% | 30% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chevrolet Spark | 44.8% | 46% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every city car ranked in the city car reliability index, or all Smart models.
Questions
Smart Fortwo Coupe questions, answered
Is the Smart Fortwo Coupe reliable?
On MOT results, the Smart Fortwo Coupe is about average: it fails 34.8% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage. It ranks 13 of 43 city car models in our index.
What fails most on a Smart Fortwo Coupe MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Smart Fortwo Coupe are coil spring fractured or broken (5.17% of tests), position lamp not working (3.5% of tests), stop lamp not working (3.04% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 16.3% of its tests.
Which Smart Fortwo Coupe year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2012 cars do best (about average for its age) and 2005 cars do worst (15% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Smart Fortwo Coupe do a year?
A typical Smart Fortwo Coupe covers about 4,900 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Smart Fortwo Coupe before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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