Does the Smart Fortwo fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Smart Fortwo records 2.57 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 5.42 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−2.85, 95% interval −2.93 to −2.77). It ranks 476 of 663 models on body, chassis and structure (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on body, chassis and structure · check a Smart Fortwo by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Smart Fortwo is “Exhaust system leaking or insecure”, recorded 2,469 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 2,469 | 0.79 |
| Fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap | 1,911 | 0.61 |
| An engine mounting/bracket severely damaged or deteriorated resulting in excessive movement | 1,287 | 0.41 |
| A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly | 529 | 0.17 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 365 | 0.12 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 311,254 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Smart Fortwo gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
7.9% of Smart Fortwo MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 3,085 miles later (5,396 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,396 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Smart Fortwo 2002 · Smart Fortwo 2003 · Smart Fortwo 2004 · Smart Fortwo 2005 · Smart Fortwo 2006 · Smart Fortwo 2007 · Smart Fortwo 2008 · Smart Fortwo 2009 · Smart Fortwo 2010 · Smart Fortwo 2011 · Smart Fortwo 2012 · Smart Fortwo 2013 · Smart Fortwo 2014 · Smart Fortwo 2015 · Smart Fortwo 2016 · Smart Fortwo 2017 · Smart Fortwo 2018 · Smart Fortwo 2019 · Smart Fortwo in Norway · Smart Fortwo in Finland · Smart Fortwo in the Netherlands · Smart Fortwo by postcode area · Smart Fortwo brakes failures · Smart Fortwo vehicle identification failures · Smart Fortwo lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Smart Fortwo noise, emissions and leaks failures · Smart Fortwo road wheels failures · Smart Fortwo seat belts and airbags failures · Smart Fortwo steering failures · Smart Fortwo suspension failures · Smart Fortwo tyres failures · Smart Fortwo visibility failures