Smart Eq Forfour Prime Exclusive MOT pass rate & common failures
1,032 MOT tests on the Smart Eq Forfour Prime Exclusive (2020–2021) give it a 91.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail at 9.3%, so the Eq Forfour Prime Exclusive sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (5.0%) and tyres (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and washers — wipers alone was recorded 55 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Eq Forfour Prime Exclusive model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 922 | 91.4% | 8.6% | Visibility |
| 2021 | 110 | 89.1% | 10.9% | Visibility |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.0% | 52 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.8% | 50 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 18 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 11 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 5 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 4 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.1% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 55 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 20 |
| 3 | Washers | 10 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 7 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 4 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 4 |
| 7 | Tread depth | 4 |
| 8 | Lever | 2 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 14.3% | 148 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 115 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.4% | 56 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 31 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 10 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 5 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 972 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 59 | 20.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 314 | 8.6% |
| 2024 | 356 | 8.7% |
| 2025 | 355 | 9.3% |
What to check before buying a Smart Eq Forfour Prime Exclusive
- Visibility (5.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (4.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Smart Eq Forfour Prime Exclusive?
91.2% of the 1,032 Smart Eq Forfour Prime Exclusive MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.8% fail rate, across model years 2020–2021.
What does the Smart Eq Forfour Prime Exclusive most often fail its MOT on?
Visibility, recorded in 5.0% of tests, then tyres (4.8%).
Methodology & source. Based on 1,032 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.