Used car guide

2011 Smart (mcc) Fortwo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Smart (mcc) Fortwos, from 2,998 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,998MOT tests in 2025
68%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
4,500typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Smart (mcc) Fortwos than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.1× usual
    Smart (mcc) Fortwo
    13.1% All 2011 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 1% of all 2011 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.

  • Braking performance2.1× usual
    Smart (mcc) Fortwo
    11.1% All 2011 cars
    5.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 2.1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1% here, against 10.8% of all 2011 cars. Brake discs: 6.1% here, against 14.5% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Smart (mcc) Fortwo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    30% 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.

  • Tyres
    28% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    20% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    19% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% 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
    6% 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%
20104,241Brakes 32%
20094,613Brakes 36%
20083,749Brakes 35%
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 2011 Smart (mcc) Fortwos registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score