2005 Smart Forfour Pulse — MOT failures & pass rate
774 MOT tests on the 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse are in this dataset, and 72.7% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 27.6%, so the 2005 Forfour Pulse sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 23.3% of all tests — 12.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 116 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 32.6% versus 20.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.4% in 2021 to 18.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.3% | 180 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 83 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.8% | 60 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.0% | 54 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 51 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.7% | 36 |
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 | 116 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 88 |
| 3 | Wipers | 55 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 54 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 35 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 33 |
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 | 30.0% | 232 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.9% | 216 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 25.3% | 196 |
| 4 | Brakes | 20.5% | 159 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.2% | 102 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 67 |
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 | 80 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 259 | 29.3% |
| 90-120k | 244 | 27.9% |
| 120-150k | 134 | 26.1% |
| 150k+ | 46 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 235 | 29.4% |
| 2022 | 182 | 25.8% |
| 2023 | 163 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 123 | 28.5% |
| 2025 | 71 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Forfour Pulse
On a 2005 Forfour Pulse, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 23.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (23.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.7% 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.
- Visibility (7.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Pulses pass their MOT?
72.7% of the 774 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.3% of tests, followed by brakes (10.7%).
Does the 2005 Forfour Pulse get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 30-60k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 774 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.