2006 Smart Forfour Pulse — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 259 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Smart Forfour Pulse, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 71.8% was below the average for cars of a similar age (74.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 36.4% in the 120-150k group versus 20.4% in the 30-60k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.5% | 61 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.5% | 35 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.3% | 19 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 15 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 12 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 11 |
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 | 33 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 28 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 19 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 16 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 15 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 31.3% | 81 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.3% | 76 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 27.4% | 71 |
| 4 | Tyres | 23.9% | 62 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.1% | 34 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.3% | 19 |
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 | 44 | 20.4% |
| 60-90k | 84 | 29.8% |
| 90-120k | 86 | 26.7% |
| 120-150k | 33 | 36.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 71 | 22.5% |
| 2022 | 60 | 30.0% |
| 2023 | 55 | 32.7% |
| 2024 | 40 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 33 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Forfour Pulse
Before buying a 2006 Smart Forfour Pulse, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 23.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (23.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.5% 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 (7.3% 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 Pulses pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 259 2006 Smart Forfour Pulse MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Smart Forfour Pulse?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.5% of tests, followed by brakes (13.5%).
Does the 2006 Forfour Pulse get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.4% in the 30-60k band to 36.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 259 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.