Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

28% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo reliable?

Based on MOT data from 6,003 vehicles, the 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo has a first-time MOT pass rate of 87%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo are: Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (28.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (28.2% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (27.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Smart (mcc) Fortwo (2016)

6,003 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87% first-time pass rate

2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo

CarHunch analysed 6,003 real MOT records for the 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 Smart Fortwo passes its MOT first time at 87%, comfortably ahead of the UK average of 80%, but that headline masks a genuine concern: over a quarter of these cars (27.5%) have recorded at least one dangerous defect during their testing history, which is significantly higher than typical. This suggests electrical or safety issues lurk beneath what appears to be reliable initial performance.

At just under 28,000 miles median mileage for an eight-year-old car, these Fortwos are low-use urban runabouts, which explains the decent pass rate but doesn't excuse the dangerous defect rate. The average 1.13 failures and 6.0 advisories per vehicle point to niggling wear items rather than catastrophic problems, so any used example you're considering should be inspected by someone who can spot electrical gremlins—and you should absolutely check its full MOT history for any dangerous flags.

The 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo has a decent first-time pass rate (87%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

87%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

27.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.13

Over 7.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

28k

Middle half: 18k–38k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 87% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 6 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 6,003 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 6,003 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 28.9%

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 26.8%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 14.1%

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread · COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 6,003 Smart (mcc) Fortwo cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo

Based on MOT data from 6,003 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 27.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 23,991 Smart (mcc) Fortwo vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 41.4%

9,943

White 26.2%

6,278

Silver 10.5%

2,518

Grey 5.5%

1,315

Red 4.9%

1,164

Blue 4.8%

1,148

Orange 4.4%

1,053

Yellow 1.5%

354

Green 0.4%

103

Brown 0.4%

Pink 0%

Multi-colour 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

27,551

typical

18,475

low mileage

38,185

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo vehicles fall between 18,475 and 38,185 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 18,475 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 18,475–38,185 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwos sit.

⚠ Over 51,549 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwos are still on the road.

Strong survival — 5,461 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

7.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.13

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Smart (mcc) Fortwo: All Fortwo years → Which year to buy? →

2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019

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Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Smart (mcc) Fortwo stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing