2006 Smart Forfour Passion — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,022 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Smart Forfour Passion, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 72.3% was below the average for cars of a similar age (74.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.1% in the 150k+ group versus 16.5% in the 30-60k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.3% | 207 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.6% | 108 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.0% | 92 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 63 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.6% | 57 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.0% | 51 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 102 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 96 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 62 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 48 |
| 5 | Wipers | 47 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 39 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.6% | 343 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.7% | 293 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.7% | 273 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 23.5% | 240 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.9% | 142 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 88 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 115 | 16.5% |
| 60-90k | 318 | 27.7% |
| 90-120k | 365 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 149 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 59 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 254 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 241 | 27.4% |
| 2023 | 209 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 176 | 27.8% |
| 2025 | 142 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Forfour Passion
Before buying a 2006 Smart Forfour Passion, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 20.3% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (20.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (9.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2006 Smart Forfour Passions pass their MOT?
72.3% of the 1,022 2006 Smart Forfour Passion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Smart Forfour Passion?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.3% of tests, followed by brakes (10.6%).
Does the 2006 Forfour Passion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.5% in the 30-60k band to 27.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,022 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.