2005 Smart Forfour Passion — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,704 MOT tests, the 2005 Smart Forfour Passion recorded a 74.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 1.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.1% of all tests — 10.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 170 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 27.9% versus 19.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 33.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 342 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.9% | 169 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.7% | 149 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 96 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 91 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.7% | 80 |
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 | 170 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 167 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 91 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 73 |
| 5 | Wipers | 69 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 69 |
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 | 33.3% | 567 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.1% | 496 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.0% | 443 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 25.5% | 434 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.2% | 207 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 131 |
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 | 158 | 19.6% |
| 60-90k | 551 | 25.1% |
| 90-120k | 579 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 269 | 27.1% |
| 150k+ | 111 | 27.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 470 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 387 | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 335 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 281 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 231 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Forfour Passion
On a 2005 Forfour Passion, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (9.9% 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 (8.7% 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 2005 Smart Forfour Passions pass their MOT?
74.2% of the 1,704 2005 Smart Forfour Passion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Smart Forfour Passion?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests, followed by brakes (9.9%).
Does the 2005 Forfour Passion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.6% in the 30-60k band to 27.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,704 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.