CarVerify

Smart (mcc) Forfour Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Smart (mcc) Forfour car check

Is the Smart (mcc) Forfour reliable? We analysed 256,394 real MOT tests across 26,709 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Smart (mcc) Forfour? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 256,394 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
78.9%
Typical Mileage
38,541mi
Annual Mileage
4,633mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
22yrs

The Smart (mcc) Forfour is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Smart (mcc) Forfour.

Smart (mcc) Forfour Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Smart (mcc) Forfour. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Smart (mcc) Forfour MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Smart (mcc) Forfour to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

86.1%
2019
85%
2018
83.6%
2017
81.3%
2016
79.4%
2015
77.3%
2010
75.7%
2009
75.4%
2008
73.8%
2007
73.3%
2006
72.6%
2005
71.7%
2004
64.4%
2003
68.9%
2002
85.5%
2001

Smart (mcc) Forfour Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Smart (mcc) Forfour fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 2,304
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,283
Registration plate lamp not working 2,059
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1,676

Smart (mcc) Forfour Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Smart (mcc) Forfour models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 5,313
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1,351

Smart (mcc) Forfour Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Smart (mcc) Forfour owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,593 mi/yr
Typical
4,633 mi/yr
Average
5,657 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,492 mi/yr

Smart (mcc) Forfour MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Smart (mcc) Forfour year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2019 9,118 86.1% 13,292 21,899 33,910
2018 22,965 85.0% 15,512 24,670 37,205
2017 37,251 83.6% 18,858 29,279 43,385
2016 46,603 81.3% 21,356 32,362 47,192
2015 56,781 79.4% 24,117 36,352 51,878
2010 194 77.3% 31,299 41,559 78,102
2009 222 75.7% 28,877 46,800 77,224
2008 187 75.4% 18,220 35,344 59,054
2007 2,234 73.8% 39,714 62,076 83,741
2006 21,794 73.3% 40,882 64,400 90,816
2005 38,950 72.6% 41,285 65,030 92,542
2004 18,462 71.7% 43,874 67,593 95,648
2003 73 64.4% 65,404 87,958 106,091
2002 90 68.9% 28,316 50,274 79,112
2001 62 85.5% 54,379 65,440 89,214

How Long Does a Smart (mcc) Forfour Last?

Based on 26,709 Smart (mcc) Forfour vehicles on UK roads.

Average
9.2 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
22 years

Smart (mcc) Forfour Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Smart (mcc) Forfour MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
38,541 mi
75th Percentile
61,151 mi
95th Percentile
109,284 mi
Max Recorded
966,752 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Smart (mcc) Forfour

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2019

86.1% MOT pass rate from 9,118 tests

Year to avoid
2003

64.4% MOT pass rate from 73 tests

The best year to buy a used Smart (mcc) Forfour is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.1% across 9,118 tests. The 2003 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Smart (mcc) Forfour Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Smart (mcc) Forfour THIS CAR 78.9% 256,394 38,541 mi 22 yrs
Smart (mcc) Fortwo Coupe 75.2% 440,585 45,098 mi 24 yrs
Smart (mcc) City Coupe 71.5% 282,294 49,203 mi 27 yrs
Smart (mcc) Fortwo 85% 187,875 28,034 mi 13 yrs
Volvo S70 69.6% 77,770 114,318 mi 29 yrs

Compared to the Smart (mcc) Fortwo Coupe (75.2% pass rate) and the Smart (mcc) City Coupe (71.5% pass rate), the Smart (mcc) Forfour outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Smart (mcc) Forfour you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

Check a specific Smart (mcc) Forfour

Should you buy a used Smart (mcc) Forfour?

The Smart (mcc) Forfour has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.9% across 256,394 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Smart (mcc) Forfour are windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (2,304 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2,283), and registration plate lamp not working (2,059). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Smart (mcc) Forfour with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Smart (mcc) Forfour owner drives around 4,633 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Smart (mcc) Forfour models stay on UK roads for around 22 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Smart (mcc) Forfour — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Smart (mcc) Forfour reliable?
Based on 256,394 MOT tests, the Smart (mcc) Forfour has a 78.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Smart (mcc) Forfour?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and registration plate lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Smart (mcc) Forfour do per year?
The typical Smart (mcc) Forfour does around 4,633 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Smart (mcc) Forfour last?
Most Smart (mcc) Forfour models stay on UK roads for around 22 years based on our analysis of 26,709 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Smart (mcc) Forfour?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Smart (mcc) Forfour?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Smart (mcc) Forfour is 2019 with a 86.1% pass rate across 9,118 tests.