Smart Forfour Passion MOT Failures
An analysis of 2,098 real DVSA MOT tests on the Smart Forfour Passion — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads.
Where the Smart Forfour Passion fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Smart Forfour Passion is headlight fault — this model is 13 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it worth watching for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 2,098 MOT tests, 11.59% of all Smart Forfour Passion tests recorded this as a failure.
Lighting faults are usually straightforward to fix (bulbs, connectors, earth points) but can indicate deeper wiring issues on older cars. Check all lights including fog lamps, number plate lights, and dashboard warning lights.
Other notable weak points include suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated (10x the fleet average), track rod ends worn (14x the fleet average), wheel bearings worn (6.6x the fleet average), and anti-roll bar links worn (5.9x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Smart Forfour Passion's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 5 categories: Lights & Electrics, Suspension, Steering, Brakes, Wheels. If you're inspecting a Smart Forfour Passion before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Smart Forfour Passion's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Smart Forfour Passion specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are track rod ends worn (14x the average) and headlight fault (13x). suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated (10x) and wheel bearings worn (6.6x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Smart Forfour Passion specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated (6.8x the average) and headlight fault (5.9x). wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and... (5.3x) and wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and... also appear frequently.
The shift from track rod ends worn at lower mileages to suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
What to check before buying a Smart Forfour Passion
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Smart Forfour Passion:
Lights & Electrics — check for headlight fault. Suspension — check for suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated, wheel bearings worn, anti-roll bar links worn. Steering — check for track rod ends worn.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Smart Forfour Passion?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Smart Forfour Passion MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Smart Forfour Passion?
Based on 2,098 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is headlight fault — at 13x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated and track rod ends worn.
Is the Smart Forfour Passion reliable based on MOT data?
The Smart Forfour Passion has 7 categories where it fails more often than average. The main concern is headlight fault. Always check a specific car's full history before buying.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Smart Forfour Passion most commonly fails on suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated and headlight fault. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are .
How do I check a Smart Forfour Passion's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.