Smart Fortwo Coupe

What fails its inspection

Great Britain's MOT record for the 2009 1.0 petrol. 680 of 3,108 tests failed, 22%.

Better than 66% of 2009 cars. The typical one fails 25%, across 961 models with enough tests behind them to say.

The defects inspectors cite

• A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
• A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
• Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
• Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
• The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
• A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• Suspension — 52% of its failures
  • A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
• Brakes — 33% of its failures
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
• Tyres and wheels — 18% of its failures
  • A tyre seriously damaged
• Exhaust and emissions — 16% of its failures
• Lights and electrics — 35% of its failures
  • A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
• Visibility — 11% of its failures

When it starts failing

At 120–140k miles this one fails 18% of its inspections, against the 29% an ordinary car of the same age fails.

3,089 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.

Half of these have more than 60k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.

Specification