Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto?

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 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto?

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 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto?

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 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

30% 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 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto reliable?

Based on MOT data from 533 vehicles, the 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.1%, 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 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto?

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 Mhd Auto (2012)

533 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.1% first-time pass rate

2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto

CarHunch analysed 533 real MOT records for the 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto. 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 2012 Smart Fortwo trails the UK average pass rate by 4.4 percentage points at 75.6%, and that's a material concern—nearly one in three cars (30.4%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is well above the threshold that should worry a buyer. The petrol variant's 75.4% pass rate offers no relief, confirming the weakness runs across the model rather than being fuel-specific.

At 37,928 miles median, these cars are running relatively light for their age, yet they're still averaging 2.07 failures per test, suggesting wear issues aren't purely a mileage story. The high advisory rate of 8.8 per vehicle points to ongoing minor gremlins that accumulate into expensive nuisance repairs; budget for electrical and trim issues before purchase, and get a pre-buy inspection that specifically flags any history of dangerous defects on the individual car.

The 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto has a decent first-time pass rate (83.1%), 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

83.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

30.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.07

Over 11.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

38k

Middle half: 28k–50k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 8.8 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 533 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 533 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto

Based on MOT data from 533 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 30.4% 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 (97%)	519	83.1%	2.09

Colour Breakdown

Based on 3,822 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 34.5%

1,319

Silver 25.3%

966

White 23.5%

899

Red 6.3%

240

Grey 5.4%

207

Blue 3.2%

123

Green 0.5%

Pink 0.4%

Orange 0.4%

Yellow 0.2%

Brown 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto 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.

37,928

typical

27,926

low mileage

50,443

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto vehicles fall between 27,926 and 50,443 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 27,926 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.

✓ 27,926–50,443 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Autos sit.

⚠ Over 68,098 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto — Still on the Road

Almost all 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Autos are still on the road.

Strong survival — 412 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 91% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

11.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.07

Avg failures per vehicle

8.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto: All Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto years → Which year to buy? →

2008 2009 2010 2011 2013

Or browse all models: Smart →

Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing