Smart Forfour Pure MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 2,851 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 36.0%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Smart Forfour Pure MOT Reliability Overview
The Smart Forfour Pure is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,851 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.0% and a failure rate of 36.0%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Smart Forfour Pure earns a "Average" reliability rating. The average Smart Forfour Pure presents for MOT with approximately 64,726 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2005 models achieve the highest pass rate at 64.2%, while 2006 models have the lowest at 64.0%. This 0.2 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Smart Forfour Pure is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 25.5% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Tyres at 20.8%. Suspension rounds out the top three at 18.7%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Smart Forfour Pure. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 13 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Smart Forfour Pure shows a moderate increase in MOT failures after warranty. The 34% increase is typical — plan for gradual maintenance cost increases. Peak failure occurs at age 13 (46.6% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 45.9% | 1,308 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.1% | 660 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.3% | 551 |
| 4 | Brakes | 17.4% | 496 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 10.0% | 286 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 95 |
| 7 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 3.1% | 88 |
| 8 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 2.7% | 76 |
| 9 | Steering | 2.3% | 65 |
| 10 | Non-component Advisories | 2.0% | 58 |
| 11 | Road Wheels | 1.7% | 49 |
| 12 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 1.3% | 38 |
| 13 | Registration Plates And Vin | 1.2% | 35 |
| 14 | Body, Structure And General Items | 1.2% | 35 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 64,726 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 7.09 | 45.9% | 1,308 |
| Tyres | 3.58 | 23.1% | 660 |
| Suspension | 2.99 | 19.3% | 551 |
| Brakes | 2.69 | 17.4% | 496 |
| Visibility | 2.06 | 13.3% | 381 |
| Body & Structure | 0.60 | 3.9% | 111 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.48 | 3.1% | 88 |
| Steering | 0.35 | 2.3% | 65 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.31 | 2.0% | 58 |
| Wheels | 0.27 | 1.7% | 49 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.21 | 1.3% | 38 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.19 | 1.2% | 35 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Smart Forfour Pure has 64,726 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Smart Forfour Pure has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.56% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Smart Forfour Pure MOT Data
The Smart Forfour Pure is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,851 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.0% and a failure rate of 36.0%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Smart Forfour Pure owners, these results suggest average reliability — some preparation before MOT can improve pass chances. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and tyres for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Forfour Pure is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.5% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 25.5% of MOT failures on the Smart Forfour Pure. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Tyres — 20.8% of failures
Tyres issues account for 20.8% of MOT failures on the Smart Forfour Pure. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Suspension — 18.7% of failures
Suspension issues account for 18.7% of MOT failures on the Smart Forfour Pure. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Smart Forfour Pure?
Based on 2,851 MOT tests in our database, the Smart Forfour Pure has an overall pass rate of 64.0% (36.0% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Smart Forfour Pure?
The top 3 reasons a Smart Forfour Pure fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (25.5%), 2. Tyres (20.8%), 3. Suspension (18.7%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Smart Forfour Pure reliable?
With a 36.0% MOT failure rate, the Forfour Pure is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Smart Forfour Pure?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (25.5%); Tyres (20.8%); Suspension (18.7%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.