2005 · 19 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2005 Smart Forfour MOT pass rate and common faults

551 MOT tests in 2024. 57.9% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

102Above average
Passed first time57.9%
Failed or needed repairs42.1%
Typical mileage at test95,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 551 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle5.6%
  2. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect5.6%
  3. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively4.5%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements4.0%
  5. Position lamp: not working3.4%
  6. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.1%
  7. Stop lamp: not working2.9%
  8. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.7%
  9. Headlamp: has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced2.7%
  10. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.4%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics44.8%
  2. Brakes19.6%
  3. Suspension13.4%
  4. Body & chassis13.1%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)10.2%
  6. Emissions & leaks7.1%
  7. Steering5.1%
  8. Tyres5.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened14.5%
  2. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened13.4%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm12.7%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure12.3%
  5. Registration plates: inscription illegible7.1%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2005 Smart Forfour?

In 2024, 57.9% of 2005 Smart Forfour cars passed their MOT first time, across 551 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 Smart Forfour?

The most common failure reasons were door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle; headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2005 Smart Forfour reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 102, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).