2006 Smart Forfour Coolstyle 90 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 300 MOT tests, the 2006 Smart Forfour Coolstyle 90 recorded a 74.7% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.3% of the time, so this is 2.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.7% of all tests — 10.3 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 26 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2006 Forfour Coolstyle 90 fails 24.6% of the time in the 30-60k band and 25.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 59 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.3% | 28 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.7% | 20 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 18 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 17 |
| 6 | Brakes | 5.3% | 16 |
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 | 26 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 24 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 19 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 18 |
| 5 | Wipers | 15 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 13 |
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 | 32.3% | 97 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.0% | 90 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.3% | 85 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 24.3% | 73 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.7% | 44 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 27 |
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 | 65 | 24.6% |
| 60-90k | 129 | 24.8% |
| 90-120k | 75 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73 | 20.5% |
| 2022 | 64 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 59 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 59 | 35.6% |
| 2025 | 45 | 24.4% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Forfour Coolstyle 90
On a 2006 Forfour Coolstyle 90, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (9.3% 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 (6.7% 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
How many 2006 Smart Forfour Coolstyle 90s pass their MOT?
74.7% of the 300 2006 Smart Forfour Coolstyle 90 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Smart Forfour Coolstyle 90?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by suspension (9.3%).
Does the 2006 Forfour Coolstyle 90 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.6% in the 30-60k band to 25.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 300 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.