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Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto car check

Is the Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto reliable? We analysed 2,111 real MOT tests across 143 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,111 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.4%
Typical Mileage
52,338mi
Annual Mileage
3,586mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
22yrs

The Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, stop lamp not working and headlamp not working on dipped beam. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto.

Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

75.3%
2008
72.5%
2007
74.7%
2006
74%
2005
72%
2004

Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Smart Fortwo Pure 61 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 52
Stop lamp not working 48
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 39
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 35
position lamp(s) not working 31
coil spring broken 26
Headlamp aim too high 22
Headlamp aim too low 21
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 17
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 15

Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,616 mi/yr
Typical
3,586 mi/yr
Average
4,907 mi/yr
Heavy usage
6,312 mi/yr

Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 772 75.3% 35,390 53,630 74,028
2007 570 72.5% 34,396 55,212 73,384
2006 221 74.7% 27,036 45,418 59,674
2005 304 74.0% 24,536 49,998 68,375
2004 164 72.0% 29,831 46,930 70,373

How Long Does a Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto Last?

Based on 143 Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.3 years
Median
16.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
22 years

Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
52,338 mi
75th Percentile
72,394 mi
95th Percentile
102,272 mi
Max Recorded
169,131 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto

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

Best year
2008

75.3% MOT pass rate from 772 tests

Year to avoid
2004

72.0% MOT pass rate from 164 tests

The best year to buy a used Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 75.3% across 772 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.0% — 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 Pure 61 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 Pure 61 Auto THIS CAR 74.4% 2,111 52,338 mi 22 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
Maserati Grancabrio Auto 84.9% 1,935 25,973 mi 16 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 Pure 61 Auto sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto?

The Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.4% across 2,111 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (52 recorded failures), stop lamp not working (48), and headlamp not working on dipped beam (39). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto owner drives around 3,586 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 Pure 61 Auto models stay on UK roads for around 22 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 Pure 61 Auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto reliable?
Based on 2,111 MOT tests, the Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto has a 74.4% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, stop lamp not working, and headlamp not working on dipped beam. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto do per year?
The typical Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto does around 3,586 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto last?
Most Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto models stay on UK roads for around 22 years based on our analysis of 143 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Smart Fortwo Pure 61 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 Pure 61 Auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Smart Fortwo Pure 61 Auto is 2008 with a 75.3% pass rate across 772 tests.