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Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto car check

Is the Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto reliable? We analysed 10,625 real MOT tests across 639 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 10,625 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.7%
Typical Mileage
61,222mi
Annual Mileage
4,840mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
22yrs

The Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto is about 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 Forfour Passion Semi-auto.

Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

76.9%
2007
75.4%
2006
74.5%
2005
73.2%
2004

Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 273
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 264
Registration plate lamp not working 239
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 209
position lamp(s) not working 137
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 90
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 84
Stop lamp not working 77
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 75

Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,664 mi/yr
Typical
4,840 mi/yr
Average
5,973 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,924 mi/yr

Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2007 1,590 76.9% 41,137 63,534 84,249
2006 1,794 75.4% 36,826 56,941 78,791
2005 5,342 74.5% 39,990 60,788 87,156
2004 1,866 73.2% 42,555 64,068 87,781

How Long Does a Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto Last?

Based on 639 Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.6 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
22 years

Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto Mileage Distribution

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

Median
61,222 mi
75th Percentile
85,726 mi
95th Percentile
125,250 mi
Max Recorded
999,999 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto

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

Best year
2007

76.9% MOT pass rate from 1,590 tests

Year to avoid
2004

73.2% MOT pass rate from 1,866 tests

The best year to buy a used Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto is 2007, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 76.9% across 1,590 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto THIS CAR 74.7% 10,625 61,222 mi 22 yrs
Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) 74% 44,118 54,896 mi 23 yrs
Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto 79.4% 44,035 38,367 mi 18 yrs
Smart City Passion 61 Auto 73% 27,463 48,099 mi 23 yrs
Mini Countryman Cooper D 83.7% 13,433 70,992 mi 16 yrs

Compared to the Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) (74.0% pass rate) and the Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto (79.4% pass rate), the Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto?

The Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.7% across 10,625 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto are windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (273 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (264), and registration plate lamp not working (239). 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.

A typical Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto owner drives around 4,840 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 Forfour Passion Semi-auto 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 Forfour Passion Semi-auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto reliable?
Based on 10,625 MOT tests, the Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto has a 74.7% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto?
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 Forfour Passion Semi-auto do per year?
The typical Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto does around 4,840 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto last?
Most Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto models stay on UK roads for around 22 years based on our analysis of 639 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto?
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 Forfour Passion Semi-auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Smart Forfour Passion Semi-auto is 2007 with a 76.9% pass rate across 1,590 tests.