2004 Smart Forfour Passion — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Smart Forfour Passion passed 71.1% of its 537 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2004 Forfour Passion comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests against 12.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, headlamp aim and wipers — headlamp alone was recorded 67 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.4% in the 30-60k band and 31.6% in the 150k+ band, a 12.1-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 30.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 108 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.1% | 65 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.1% | 54 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.8% | 47 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 38 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.8% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 67 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 63 |
| 3 | Wipers | 33 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 31 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 29 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 27 |
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 | 32.8% | 176 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.6% | 143 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 23.3% | 125 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.5% | 121 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.6% | 62 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.6% | 57 |
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 | 72 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 120 | 30.0% |
| 90-120k | 200 | 32.5% |
| 120-150k | 103 | 27.2% |
| 150k+ | 38 | 31.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 152 | 30.3% |
| 2022 | 124 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 106 | 25.5% |
| 2024 | 90 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 65 | 33.9% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Forfour Passion
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.1% 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 (10.1% 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
How many 2004 Smart Forfour Passions pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 537 2004 Smart Forfour Passion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Smart Forfour Passion?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests, followed by brakes (12.1%).
Does the 2004 Forfour Passion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 30-60k band to 31.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 537 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.