Smart Forfour Pure Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Smart Forfour Pure car check
Is the Smart Forfour Pure reliable? We analysed 4,263 real MOT tests across 275 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Smart Forfour Pure? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Smart Forfour Pure is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, registration plate lamp not working and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Smart Forfour Pure.
Smart Forfour Pure Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Smart Forfour Pure. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Smart Forfour Pure MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Smart Forfour Pure to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Smart Forfour Pure Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Smart Forfour Pure fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Smart Forfour Pure Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Smart Forfour Pure owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Smart Forfour Pure MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Smart Forfour Pure year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 3,375 | 72.7% | 42,192 | 63,464 | 86,415 |
| 2005 | 813 | 74.3% | 40,384 | 60,529 | 86,346 |
How Long Does a Smart Forfour Pure Last?
Based on 275 Smart Forfour Pure vehicles on UK roads.
Smart Forfour Pure Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Smart Forfour Pure 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 Pure
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
74.3% MOT pass rate from 813 tests
72.7% MOT pass rate from 3,375 tests
The best year to buy a used Smart Forfour Pure is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 74.3% across 813 tests. The 2006 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.7% — 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 Pure Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Forfour Pure THIS CAR | 73.3% | 4,263 | 62,734 mi | 21 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 Cooper Sd Auto | 81.3% | 5,006 | 49,613 mi | 15 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 Pure trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Smart Forfour Pure 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 PureShould you buy a used Smart Forfour Pure?
The Smart Forfour Pure has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.3% across 4,263 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Smart Forfour Pure are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (151 recorded failures), registration plate lamp not working (124), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (116). 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 Pure owner drives around 5,477 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 Pure models stay on UK roads for around 21 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.