Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2017 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 2017 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 2017 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 2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwo vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

23% 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 2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwo reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,023 vehicles, the 2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwo has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2017 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 2017 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 (2017)

5,023 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.7% first-time pass rate

2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwo

CarHunch analysed 5,023 real MOT records for the 2017 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2017 Smart Fortwo is more reliable than average, with an 88.7% first-time pass rate against the UK baseline of 80%, though the concerning part is that nearly one in four of these cars (22.5%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—something to take seriously when viewing a used example. Electric versions perform slightly better at 91.7%, but the petrol majority sits at 88.7%, so fuel type isn't a major differentiator here.

At just under 28,000 miles on average, these cars are relatively lightly used for their age, which supports their above-average pass rate. The real telling detail is the advisory count: 5.1 per test suggests minor wear items are cropping up regularly, so budget for consumables and trim fixes rather than structural problems.

The 2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwo passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (88.7%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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

88.7%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

22.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.89

Over 6.9 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

25k

Middle half: 17k–35k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 88.7% 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 5.1 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 5,023 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 5,023 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 2017.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,023 Smart (mcc) Fortwo cars.

Before you buy a 2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwo

Based on MOT data from 5,023 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 22.5% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (98%)	4,912	88.7%	0.9
Electric (2%)	111	91.7%	0.59

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 2017 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.

24,777

typical

16,553

low mileage

35,217

high mileage

Half of all 2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwo vehicles fall between 16,553 and 35,217 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 16,553 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.

✓ 16,553–35,217 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwos sit.

⚠ Over 47,542 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwo — Still on the Road

Almost all 2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwos are still on the road.

Strong survival — 4,588 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 98% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
* 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

6.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.89

Avg failures per vehicle

5.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwo stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?