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Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Smart Fortwo Passion Auto car check

Is the Smart Fortwo Passion Auto reliable? We analysed 3,048 real MOT tests across 274 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,048 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.8%
Typical Mileage
33,990mi
Annual Mileage
3,111mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
16yrs

The Smart Fortwo Passion Auto is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Smart Fortwo Passion Auto.

Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Smart Fortwo Passion Auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Smart Fortwo Passion Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Smart Fortwo Passion Auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

82.6%
2013
82.9%
2012
80.1%
2011
74.6%
2010

Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Smart Fortwo Passion Auto fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 22

Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Smart Fortwo Passion Auto models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 40
Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 11

Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Smart Fortwo Passion Auto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,604 mi/yr
Typical
3,111 mi/yr
Average
4,144 mi/yr
Heavy usage
5,386 mi/yr

Smart Fortwo Passion Auto MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Smart Fortwo Passion Auto year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2013 1,307 82.6% 20,946 32,069 48,304
2012 691 82.9% 21,768 32,974 50,362
2011 709 80.1% 24,549 39,086 54,856
2010 118 74.6% 18,743 33,770 55,774

How Long Does a Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Last?

Based on 274 Smart Fortwo Passion Auto vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.0 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
16 years

Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Smart Fortwo Passion Auto MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
33,990 mi
75th Percentile
51,196 mi
95th Percentile
80,652 mi
Max Recorded
179,396 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Smart Fortwo Passion Auto

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2012

82.9% MOT pass rate from 691 tests

Year to avoid
2010

74.6% MOT pass rate from 118 tests

The best year to buy a used Smart Fortwo Passion Auto is 2012, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.9% across 691 tests. The 2010 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Smart Fortwo Passion Auto Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Smart Fortwo Passion Auto THIS CAR 81.8% 3,048 33,990 mi 16 yrs
Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) 74% 44,118 54,896 mi 23 yrs
Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto 79.4% 44,035 38,367 mi 18 yrs
Smart City Passion 61 Auto 73% 27,463 48,099 mi 23 yrs
Vauxhall Crossland Elite 89.2% 1,171 43,056 mi — yrs

Compared to the Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) (74.0% pass rate) and the Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto (79.4% pass rate), the Smart Fortwo Passion Auto outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Smart Fortwo Passion Auto?

The Smart Fortwo Passion Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.8% across 3,048 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common failure point is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm with 22 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Smart Fortwo Passion Auto with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Smart Fortwo Passion Auto owner drives around 3,111 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Smart Fortwo Passion Auto models stay on UK roads for around 16 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Smart Fortwo Passion Auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Smart Fortwo Passion Auto reliable?
Based on 3,048 MOT tests, the Smart Fortwo Passion Auto has a 81.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Smart Fortwo Passion Auto?
The most common failure point is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.
How many miles does a Smart Fortwo Passion Auto do per year?
The typical Smart Fortwo Passion Auto does around 3,111 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Smart Fortwo Passion Auto last?
Most Smart Fortwo Passion Auto models stay on UK roads for around 16 years based on our analysis of 274 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Smart Fortwo Passion Auto?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Smart Fortwo Passion Auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Smart Fortwo Passion Auto is 2012 with a 82.9% pass rate across 691 tests.