Smart Forfour Pulse MOT pass rate & common failures
1,427 MOT tests on the Smart Forfour Pulse (2004–2007) give it a 72.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail at 27.5%, so the Forfour Pulse sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.0% of tests against 11.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 223 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 32.9% versus 22.9%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.5% in 2021 to 25.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Forfour Pulse model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 357 | 69.8% | 30.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 774 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 291 | 73.2% | 26.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 24.0% | 343 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.6% | 166 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.3% | 104 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.7% | 95 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 88 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.3% | 62 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 60 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.1% | 44 |
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 | 223 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 158 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 92 |
| 4 | Wipers | 82 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 73 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 70 |
| 7 | Individual direction indicators | 51 |
| 8 | Door condition | 46 |
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 | 31.0% | 442 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.1% | 401 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 27.1% | 386 |
| 4 | Brakes | 24.1% | 344 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.0% | 185 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 114 |
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 | 179 | 22.9% |
| 60-90k | 437 | 28.4% |
| 90-120k | 443 | 27.1% |
| 120-150k | 276 | 30.8% |
| 150k+ | 73 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 428 | 28.5% |
| 2022 | 338 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 296 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 219 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 146 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a Smart Forfour Pulse
- Lighting & signalling (24.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.6% 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 (7.3% 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.
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 Pulse?
72.2% of the 1,427 Smart Forfour Pulse MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.8% fail rate, across model years 2004–2007.
What does the Smart Forfour Pulse most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.0% of tests, then brakes (11.6%).
How much does mileage affect Forfour Pulse MOT results?
Fail rates run at 22.9% for cars in the 30-60k band and 32.9% for 150k+, a 10.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,427 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.