Which Smart models fail their MOT less for their age?
In 2024, 77.7% of MOTs on the 7 Smart models published here passed (71.4% first time, 6.3% after a fix at the test centre), from 86,324 first tests. Allowing for age (not mileage), these Smart models fail 6% less often than normal: brand MOT Risk Index 93.9 (95% CI 92.9–94.9; 100 = normal).
Among Smart models with at least 10,000 first tests, the Smart Fortwo has the lowest index (87.6) and the Smart Forfour the highest (115.0). On raw pass rates, the Smart Forfour comes first instead, because the models' fleets differ in age.
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 25 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
Which Smart models fail least and most for their age?
Of the 7 Smart models, 3 fail less often than normal for their age, 1 more often, and 3 cannot be told apart from normal because their 95% intervals include 100.
| Model | MOT pass rate, % | Passed first time, % | MOT Risk Index | 95% interval | First tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Roadster (798 tests) | 75.9 | 71.0 | 68.4 | 61.2–76.0 | 798 |
| Smart Roadster (1,584 tests) | 74.6 | 69.6 | 72.3 | 67.1–77.8 | 1,584 |
| Smart Fortwo | 78.0 | 71.5 | 87.6 | 86.4–88.8 | 51,770 |
| Smart EQ Forfour | 91.7 | 88.6 | 89.8 | 80.6–100.0 | 2,569 |
| Smart City | 68.6 | 61.0 | 92.3 | 84.4–100.4 | 789 |
| Smart City-Coupe | 67.1 | 58.8 | 98.6 | 95.3–101.9 | 4,878 |
| Smart Forfour | 78.4 | 72.5 | 115.0 | 112.7–117.4 | 23,936 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2024 · n = 86,324 (initial tests) · Method: MOT Risk Index = observed first-time failures ÷ failures expected for the same age profile × 100; brand index sums both over the 7 models · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Where are Smart models worse than other cars of the same age?
Allowing for age, Smart models fail on noise, emissions and leaks more than other cars of the same age: 4.8 failures per 100 tests against 4.0 expected (0.8 more; 95% interval 0.71 to 0.83).
| Failure group | Smart, per 100 tests | Expected for the same age | Difference | 95% interval | Most common failure on (models) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.8 | 4.0 | +0.8 | 0.71 to 0.83 | 0 of 7 |
| Visibility | 8.7 | 8.2 | +0.5 | 0.45 to 0.61 | 1 of 7 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.4 | 0.4 | +0.0 | -0.01 to 0.02 | 0 of 7 |
| Road Wheels | 0.2 | 0.4 | -0.3 | -0.27 to -0.24 | 0 of 7 |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 0.5 | 1.2 | -0.7 | -0.69 to -0.65 | 0 of 7 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 17.6 | 18.7 | -1.1 | -1.23 to -1.00 | 6 of 7 |
| Tyres | 7.8 | 9.0 | -1.3 | -1.34 to -1.19 | 0 of 7 |
| Steering | 1.6 | 3.0 | -1.3 | -1.38 to -1.31 | 0 of 7 |
| Brakes | 9.7 | 12.3 | -2.6 | -2.65 to -2.49 | 0 of 7 |
| Body, chassis, structure | 3.1 | 6.0 | -2.9 | -2.93 to -2.84 | 0 of 7 |
| Suspension | 10.5 | 16.1 | -5.6 | -5.71 to -5.53 | 0 of 7 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 517,285 (initial tests of the 7 models) · Method: failure items per 100 tests against the rate expected for the same age and kind of vehicle; interval from the count of failures (Poisson); a group is named only when its interval is wholly above zero and it is at least 5% above the expected rate · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Smart MOT statistics by model 2024 (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 25 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/brand/smart/
How the MOT Risk Index and every figure on this page are calculated: methodology.
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