Smart Eq Forfour Pulse MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 3 model years and 1,068 tests, the Smart Eq Forfour Pulse passes its MOT 88.6% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 9.3% of the time, so this is 2.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (7.0%) and visibility (6.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, washers and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 60 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.1% of tests failed in 2023 against 12.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Eq Forfour Pulse model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 992 | 88.4% | 11.6% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 75 | 90.7% | 9.3% | Visibility |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.0% | 75 |
| 2 | Visibility | 6.1% | 65 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 19 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.0% | 11 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 5 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 2 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.1% | 1 |
| 8 | Steering | 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 | 60 |
| 2 | Washers | 17 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 11 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 8 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 6 |
| 7 | Size/type | 6 |
| 8 | Service brake performance | 4 |
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 | 21.3% | 227 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.3% | 99 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.3% | 57 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 36 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 7 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 7 |
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 | 989 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 75 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 347 | 10.1% |
| 2024 | 350 | 11.7% |
| 2025 | 360 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a Smart Eq Forfour Pulse
- Tyres (7.0% 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.
- Visibility (6.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.8% 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 Pulse?
88.6% of the 1,068 Smart Eq Forfour Pulse MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 11.4% fail rate, across model years 2020–2022.
What does the Smart Eq Forfour Pulse most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 7.0% of tests, then visibility (6.1%).
Methodology & source. Based on 1,068 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.