Smart Forfour Coolstyle 90 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 2 model years and 371 tests, the Smart Forfour Coolstyle 90 passes its MOT 76.8% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 27.2% of the time, so this is 4.0pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.7% of all tests — 12.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 27 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.4% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.0% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Forfour Coolstyle 90 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 300 | 74.7% | 25.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 71 | 85.9% | 14.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 73 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.5% | 28 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.0% | 26 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 20 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 19 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.6% | 17 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.5% | 13 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.4% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 27 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 25 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 21 |
| 5 | Wipers | 20 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 13 |
| 7 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 12 |
| 8 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 12 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 30.7% | 114 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.3% | 105 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.2% | 97 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 23.7% | 88 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.8% | 55 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 30 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 77 | 23.4% |
| 60-90k | 156 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 96 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 30 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 90 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 82 | 18.3% |
| 2023 | 72 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 70 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 57 | 21.1% |
What to check before buying a Smart Forfour Coolstyle 90
- Lighting & signalling (19.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Visibility (7.0% 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.
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 Forfour Coolstyle 90?
76.8% of the 371 Smart Forfour Coolstyle 90 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 23.2% fail rate, across model years 2006–2007.
What does the Smart Forfour Coolstyle 90 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests, then suspension (7.5%).
How much does mileage affect Forfour Coolstyle 90 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 23.4% for cars in the 30-60k band and 30.0% for 120-150k, a 6.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 371 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.