Used car guide

2008 Smart (mcc) Fortwo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Smart (mcc) Fortwos, from 3,749 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,749MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
4,100typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Smart (mcc) Fortwos than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Rigid brake pipes2× usual
    Smart (mcc) Fortwo
    19% All 2008 cars
    9.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.5% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Fuel cap14.5× usual
    Smart (mcc) Fortwo
    2.9% All 2008 cars
    0.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 0.2% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Engine warning light1.7× usual
    Smart (mcc) Fortwo
    4.7% All 2008 cars
    2.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 2.7% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes2.7× usual
    Smart (mcc) Fortwo
    2.4% All 2008 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Side repeaters1.8× usual
    Smart (mcc) Fortwo
    2.7% All 2008 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.9% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

Better than most

Brake discs: 6.4% here, against 14.8% of all 2008 cars. Engine oil leaks: 4.7% here, against 12.5% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Smart (mcc) Fortwo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    35% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    29% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    28% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    27% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    8% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20191,872Tyres 26%
20183,365Tyres 30%
20174,802Tyres 27%
20165,717Tyres 26%
20152,205Tyres 25%
20143,658Tyres 26%
2013889Tyres 29%
20121,781Brakes 33%
20112,998Brakes 30%
20104,241Brakes 32%
20094,613Brakes 36%
20071,771Brakes 34%
2006752Suspension 40%
2005575Suspension 40%
2004502Lights and electrics 38%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Smart (mcc) Fortwos registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score