Used car guide

2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwos, from 4,802 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,802MOT tests in 2025
80%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)
4,300typical miles a year
6×the usual rate for exhaust emissions (catalyst)

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwos than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)6× usual
    Smart (mcc) Fortwo
    2.4% All 2017 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 0.4% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers1.8× usual
    Smart (mcc) Fortwo
    4.4% All 2017 cars
    2.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 1.5% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Number plates1.8× usual
    Smart (mcc) Fortwo
    3.2% All 2017 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.2% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Brake lights2× usual
    Smart (mcc) Fortwo
    2.6% All 2017 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.1% of all 2017 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.

  • Exhaust system1.9× usual
    Smart (mcc) Fortwo
    2.8% All 2017 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.4% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.3% here, against 4.8% of all 2017 cars.

By area

The share of 2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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.

  • Brakes
    17% 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.

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

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Suspension
    7% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    4% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20191,872Tyres 26%
20183,365Tyres 30%
20165,717Tyres 26%
20152,205Tyres 25%
20143,658Tyres 26%
2013889Tyres 29%
20121,781Brakes 33%
20112,998Brakes 30%
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 2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwos registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score