2004 Smart Forfour Pulse — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse passed 69.8% of its 357 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 2.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 27.5% of tests against 12.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and rbt (sp) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 72 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 28.8% in the 30-60k band and 35.9% in the 120-150k band, a 7.1-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 31.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 27.5% | 98 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.9% | 46 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.4% | 30 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 26 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 23 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 19 |
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 | 72 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 42 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 25 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 21 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 17 |
| 6 | Wipers | 17 |
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 | 35.6% | 127 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 30.5% | 109 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.3% | 108 |
| 4 | Brakes | 26.6% | 95 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.6% | 45 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 30 |
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 | 52 | 28.8% |
| 60-90k | 83 | 26.5% |
| 90-120k | 96 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 103 | 35.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 114 | 31.6% |
| 2022 | 87 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 70 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 50 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 36 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Forfour Pulse
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 27.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (27.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.9% 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 (8.4% 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 Pulses pass their MOT?
69.8% of the 357 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 27.5% of tests, followed by brakes (12.9%).
Does the 2004 Forfour Pulse get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.8% in the 30-60k band to 35.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 357 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.