2020 Smart Eq Forfour Pulse — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 992 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Smart Eq Forfour Pulse, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 88.4% was below the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.1% | 70 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.8% | 57 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 17 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 11 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 5 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 53 |
| 2 | Washers | 14 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 10 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 8 |
| 6 | Size/type | 6 |
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 | 20.8% | 206 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.9% | 88 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.3% | 53 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 34 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 7 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 6 |
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 | 916 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 74 | 20.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 339 | 10.0% |
| 2024 | 318 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 324 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Eq Forfour Pulse
Before buying a 2020 Smart Eq Forfour Pulse, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 7.1% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (7.1% 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 (5.8% 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 (1.7% 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
How many 2020 Smart Eq Forfour Pulses pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 992 2020 Smart Eq Forfour Pulse MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Smart Eq Forfour Pulse?
Tyres, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by visibility (5.8%).
Does the 2020 Eq Forfour Pulse get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 20.3% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 992 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.