Smart (Mcc) Forfour
From 37,752 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Forfours fare better: 2019 models pass at 84.5% vs 66% for 2005.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements and a tyre seriously damaged. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 1,218 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 1,218 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 1,142 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 681 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 652 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 633 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 504 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 462 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 411 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 410 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 332 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 49.6% of failures are serious: 44.5% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 5.2% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £104.
Fuel type matters
Electric versions pass at 84.8% while Diesel versions pass at 70.4%, a 14 percentage point gap.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 84.5% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 84.1% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2017 | 80.9% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2016 | 77.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
5 earlier years
| 2015 | 74.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2007 | 59.4% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 2006 | 65.4% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
| 2005 | 66% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2004 | 63.3% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated |
Typical mileage
Half of all Forfours tested had between 30,562 and 60,316 miles on the clock.
At 44,685 median miles, the Forfour has 0.048 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Smart (Mcc) models
Common questions
What is the Smart (Mcc) Forfour MOT pass rate?
The Smart (Mcc) Forfour has a 78.5% MOT pass rate based on 37,752 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Smart (Mcc) Forfour?
The most common MOT failure on the Smart (Mcc) Forfour is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 1,218 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
What is the typical mileage of a Smart (Mcc) Forfour at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Smart (Mcc) Forfour is 44,685 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 30,562 and 60,316 miles.
Buying a used Forfour?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 78.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £104 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.