The MOT Files

Model reliability file

Smart EQ Forfour MOT pass rate & common failures

From 1,756 recorded MOT tests of the Smart EQ Forfour, published by DVSA.

Data updated

Quick answer

Across 1,756 MOT tests, 85.3% of Smart EQ Forfour tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the Smart EQ Forfour fleet does not yet cover a wide enough spread of ages and distances to compare it fairly against other models. Its most commonly recorded failure is wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, which appears in 43.8% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 15,746 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

85.3%unadjusted, not comparable1,756 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the EQ Forfour. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare it fairly, and an unadjusted pass rate mostly sorts models by how recently they were bought rather than how well they were built. The failure and advisory patterns below come from the same 1,756 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

Electric car

How the EQ Forfour compares with other electric cars

At 3 to 5 years old the Smart EQ Forfour passes 85.3% of MOT tests, from 1,756 tests in that age band. Petrol and diesel cars of the same age pass 89.9%, so this model sits 4.6 points below that baseline. Among electric cars it ranks 30 of 43.

There is no emissions test for an electric car and the MOT does not check the battery. Electric cars as a group fail slightly more often than same-age petrol cars, almost entirely on tyres and suspension, because they are heavier and deliver full torque instantly.

Every electric car ranked, and what fails · What the MOT tests on an electric car

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Smart EQ Forfour tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

  1. 1.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen43.8%

    84 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained

  2. 2.A tyre seriously damaged22.9%

    44 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained

  3. 3.A tyre cords visible or damaged22.4%

    43 occurrencesTyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained

  4. 4.A tyre seriously damaged9.4%

    18 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained

  5. 5.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements8.3%

    16 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained

  6. 6.Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen3.6%

    7 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained

  7. 7.Tyres on the same axle or on twin wheels are different sizes3.1%

    6 occurrencesTyres of different sizes or construction on the same axle explained

  8. 8.A tyre seriously damaged2.6%

    5 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained

  9. 9.A steering ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment2.1%

    4 occurrencesBall joint worn explained

  10. 10.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements2.1%

    4 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Smart EQ Forfour tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

  1. 1.A tyre seriously damaged20.7%

    364 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained

  2. 2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements11.3%

    198 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained

  3. 3.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured10.4%

    182 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained

  4. 4.A tyre seriously damaged4.6%

    80 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained

  5. 5.Nail in tyre1.9%

    33 tests

  6. 6.Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt1.7%

    29 tests

  7. 7.A tyre seriously damaged1.7%

    29 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained

  8. 8.Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn1.5%

    26 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained

The rest of the record

Everything else recorded on the Smart EQ Forfour

The 20 other defects testers recorded on this model, beyond the most common listed above. Each links to what it means and what it takes to put right.

What gets tested

The EQ Forfour fleet

Average mileage recorded at test
15,746

Across examples of every age, so this is a description of the fleet rather than an annual figure.

Fuel mix of tested cars
Electric100.0%
Trim names grouped into this model (4)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

  • EQ FORFOUR EXCLUSIVE
  • EQ FORFOUR PREMIUM
  • EQ FORFOUR PRIME EXCLUSIVE
  • EQ FORFOUR PULSE PREMIUM

Check a specific Smart EQ Forfour

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Spaces are optional

Compare within the range

Other Smart models

Common questions

How reliable is the Smart EQ Forfour compared with other cars?
We do not publish a comparison for the Smart EQ Forfour, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 85.3% across 1,756 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Smart EQ Forfour?
The item recorded most often is "Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen", which appears in 43.8% of failed Smart EQ Forfour tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Smart EQ Forfour?
The most common advisory is "A tyre seriously damaged", noted on 20.7% of all Smart EQ Forfour tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Smart EQ Forfour usually have at its MOT?
The average odometer reading recorded at test is 15,746 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. No adjusted rate is shown because this model's tested examples do not cover enough of the national age and mileage range for standardisation to mean anything.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.

Further reading

Make sense of the numbers