Smart Forfour Pulse Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Smart Forfour Pulse car check
Is the Smart Forfour Pulse reliable? We analysed 12,769 real MOT tests across 738 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Smart Forfour Pulse? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Smart Forfour Pulse is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Smart Forfour Pulse.
Smart Forfour Pulse Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Smart Forfour Pulse. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Smart Forfour Pulse MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Smart Forfour Pulse to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Smart Forfour Pulse Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Smart Forfour Pulse fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Smart Forfour Pulse Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Smart Forfour Pulse owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Smart Forfour Pulse MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Smart Forfour Pulse year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,764 | 72.4% | 41,850 | 61,994 | 85,865 |
| 2005 | 6,699 | 70.8% | 45,557 | 69,240 | 94,424 |
| 2004 | 4,220 | 70.4% | 47,089 | 71,124 | 96,479 |
How Long Does a Smart Forfour Pulse Last?
Based on 738 Smart Forfour Pulse vehicles on UK roads.
Smart Forfour Pulse Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Smart Forfour Pulse MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Smart Forfour Pulse
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
72.4% MOT pass rate from 1,764 tests
70.4% MOT pass rate from 4,220 tests
The best year to buy a used Smart Forfour Pulse is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 72.4% across 1,764 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Smart Forfour Pulse Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Forfour Pulse THIS CAR | 71.0% | 12,769 | 69,061 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 |
| Honda XL750 | 86.5% | 10,052 | 32,703 mi | 36 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 Pulse trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Smart Forfour Pulse 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 Forfour PulseShould you buy a used Smart Forfour Pulse?
The Smart Forfour Pulse has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.0% across 12,769 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Smart Forfour Pulse are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (444 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (438), and registration plate lamp not working (409). 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 Pulse owner drives around 5,821 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 Pulse 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.