2016 Smart ForTwo MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 76.9% of Smart ForTwos first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. Across 17,175 ForTwo first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, tyres and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen).

This page analyses first MOT tests for Smart ForTwos first used in 2016 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
76.9%
of 5,696 first tests; all cars first used in 2016: 74.9%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
17,175
first tests, 2023–2025; 5,696 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
46.6%
of 5,696 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
39,500
middle half: 27,000–54,500 miles; all cars first used in 2016: 67,500

How the 2016 Smart ForTwo MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, ForTwos first used in 2016 against all cars first used in 2016 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the ForTwo figure was 2.0 points higher.

2016 ForTwoAll cars first used in 2016
70%80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2016, test year 2021: 82.7%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2022: 80.9%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2023: 78.6%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2024: 76.7%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2025: 74.9%2016 ForTwo, test year 2021: 85.2%2016 ForTwo, test year 2022: 83.2%2016 ForTwo, test year 2023: 80.8%2016 ForTwo, test year 2024: 78.1%2016 ForTwo, test year 2025: 76.9%76.9%74.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year2016 ForTwoAll cars first used 2016ForTwo first tests
202185.2%82.7%5,737
202283.2%80.9%5,761
202380.8%78.6%5,733
202478.1%76.7%5,746
202576.9%74.9%5,696

Common 2016 Smart ForTwo MOT failures

Share of the 3,674 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment27.2%
Tyres25.6%
Visibility25.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks21.3%
Brakes18.6%
Suspension16.7%
Body, chassis, structure6.7%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively15.9%583
Stop lamp: not working11.3%414
Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits10.5%386
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick10.4%381
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm9.3%341

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2016 Smart ForTwo before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  3. Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.

Common 2016 Smart ForTwo MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2016 ForTwos, as a share of all 17,175 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing12.2%2,091
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge10.6%1,821
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened7.9%1,364
Brake pads: wearing thin6.5%1,122
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively3.3%561

Questions about the 2016 Smart ForTwo MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2016 Smart ForTwo?

In 2025, 76.9% of ForTwos first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2016 ForTwo most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 27.2% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (25.6%) and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (25.0%). The single most common item was “Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively” (15.9%).

How often does a 2016 Smart ForTwo fail its MOT?

In 2025, 23.1% of first tests on ForTwos first used in 2016 did not pass first time: 18.0% failed, and a further 5.1% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 3,674 of 17,175 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2016 Smart ForTwo MOT advisories?

“Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (on 12.2% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (10.6%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (7.9%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (6.5%) and “Brake discs: worn, but not excessively” (3.3%).

Is a 2016 Smart ForTwo reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 85.2% in 2021 to 76.9% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2016

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2016 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2016 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2016 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2016 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2016 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics

How the 2016 Smart ForTwo MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2016 ForTwo” means a Smart ForTwo whose date of first use falls in 2016 (65, 16 and 66 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2016, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.