Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A?

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 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A?

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 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A?

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 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% 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 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A reliable?

Based on MOT data from 221 vehicles, the 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A?

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 Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A (2010)

221 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.3% first-time pass rate

2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A

CarHunch analysed 221 real MOT records for the 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A. 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 Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

This 2010 Smart ForTwo CDI has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.8%, notably below the UK average of 80%, which signals reliability concerns for this particular model and generation. More troublingly, 28.5% of these vehicles have experienced dangerous defects during their test history, well above what's typical and a genuine buyer concern.

At around 52,500 miles median mileage, these cars are relatively low-mileage for their age, yet they're averaging 3.11 failures per vehicle and 11.1 advisories—suggesting inherent design or durability issues rather than wear-and-tear problems. Before committing to one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the suspension, steering, and brake systems, where small cars often rack up repeat failures.

We have limited data for the 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

76.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

28.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.11

Over 12.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

53k

Middle half: 41k–68k

For context

These stats describe 221 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

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 221 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A cars.

Before you buy a 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A

Based on MOT data from 221 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.5% 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
Diesel (95%)	210	76%	3.17

Colour Breakdown

Based on 276 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 31.9%

White 24.3%

Silver 18.5%

Grey 10.9%

Blue 8.7%

Red 5.8%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A 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.

52,554

typical

40,820

low mileage

68,461

high mileage

Half of all 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A vehicles fall between 40,820 and 68,461 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 40,820 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.

✓ 40,820–68,461 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 As sit.

⚠ Over 92,422 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 67% of 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 As are still active.

115 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 67% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* 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

12.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.11

Avg failures per vehicle

11.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Compare with another model

See how the 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion CDI 54 A stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing