Smart Forfour Passion MOT pass rate & common failures
3,856 MOT tests on the Smart Forfour Passion (2004–2010) give it a 73.9% pass rate. That is 1.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.5%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.8% of tests against 10.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 383 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Forfour Passion fails 24.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 28.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.9 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Forfour Passion model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 537 | 71.1% | 28.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 1,704 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 1,324 | 73.3% | 26.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 290 | 80.3% | 19.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.8% | 765 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.1% | 388 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.5% | 329 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.9% | 227 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 218 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.2% | 199 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 144 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.7% | 144 |
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 | 383 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 378 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 216 |
| 4 | Wipers | 172 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 154 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 154 |
| 7 | Track rod end | 150 |
| 8 | Service brake performance | 110 |
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 | 32.6% | 1,258 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.9% | 1,074 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.2% | 972 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 23.8% | 916 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.2% | 469 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 314 |
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 | 37 | 24.3% |
| 30-60k | 444 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,245 | 25.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,293 | 27.8% |
| 120-150k | 589 | 28.0% |
| 150k+ | 227 | 28.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,013 | 25.8% |
| 2022 | 889 | 25.8% |
| 2023 | 769 | 25.1% |
| 2024 | 656 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 529 | 28.2% |
What to check before buying a Smart Forfour Passion
- Lighting & signalling (19.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (8.5% 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.
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 Passion?
73.9% of the 3,856 Smart Forfour Passion MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 26.1% fail rate, across model years 2004–2010.
What does the Smart Forfour Passion most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.8% of tests, then brakes (10.1%).
How much does mileage affect Forfour Passion MOT results?
Fail rates run at 24.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 28.2% for 150k+, a 3.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,856 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.