2007 Smart Forfour — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Smart Forfour passed 72.8% of its 405 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail at 28.1%, so the 2007 Forfour sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 21.0% of all tests — 9.6 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 41 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.6% once past 120-150k — 2.3× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 34.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.0% | 85 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.4% | 46 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.9% | 44 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.4% | 30 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 21 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.7% | 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 | 41 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 34 |
| 3 | Wipers | 26 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 22 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 15 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 31.6% | 128 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.7% | 112 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.7% | 104 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.8% | 80 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.8% | 60 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 20 |
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 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 167 | 29.9% |
| 90-120k | 115 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 49 | 30.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 95 | 23.2% |
| 2022 | 82 | 18.3% |
| 2023 | 87 | 29.9% |
| 2024 | 78 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 63 | 34.9% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Forfour
On a 2007 Forfour, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.4% 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 (10.9% 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 2007 Smart Forfours pass their MOT?
72.8% of the 405 2007 Smart Forfour MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Smart Forfour?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.0% of tests, followed by brakes (11.4%).
Does the 2007 Forfour get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 30-60k band to 30.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 405 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.