Smart Forfour
Registered from 2004 to 2019.
About this model
The Smart Forfour is a city car (A-segment) marketed by Smart over two generations. The first generation was marketed in Europe from 2003 to 2006 with a front-engine configuration, sharing its platform with the Mitsubishi Colt. The second generation was marketed in Europe from 2014 after an eight-year hiatus, using rear-engine or rear electric motor configurations. It is based on the third-generation Renault Twingo, which also forms a basis for the third-generation Smart Fortwo. A battery electric version was marketed as the EQ Forfour beginning in 2018.
From the Wikipedia article Smart Forfour, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2015 1.0 petrol. 853 of 4,571 tests failed, 19%.
Better than 25% of 2015 cars. The typical one fails 15%, across 894 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 39% | 330 |
| Tyres and wheels | 36% | 306 |
| Lights and electrics | 21% | 181 |
| Visibility | 20% | 168 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 15% | 131 |
| Brakes | 14% | 123 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 39% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- Tyres and wheels — 36% of its failures
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Exhaust and emissions — 15% of its failures
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Brakes — 14% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 21% of its failures
- Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Visibility — 20% of its failures
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 100–120k miles this one fails 21% of its inspections, against the 20% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 11% | 7% | 268 | |
| 20–40k miles | 16% | 10% | 1,574 | |
| 40–60k miles | 19% | 14% | 1,743 | |
| 60–80k miles | 23% | 17% | 704 | |
| 80–100k miles | 27% | 19% | 216 | |
| 100–120k miles | 21% | 20% | 48 |
4,553 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 40k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1.0 petrol · 1005 kg · 2494 mm wheelbase · 5.8 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 1.0 petrol · 975 kg · 2494 mm wheelbase · 5.9 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 1.0 petrol · 70 hp · 990 kg · 2492 mm wheelbase · 4.0 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 1.0 petrol · 69 hp · 984 kg · 2492 mm wheelbase · 4.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 1.0 petrol · 69 hp · 981 kg · 2494 mm wheelbase · 4.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/0808/15
In the event of a crash with the affected vehicles in which the driver's knee airbag is deployed, it cannot be ruled out that parts of the airbag might come loose, increasing the risk of injury for the driver.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/1330/17
As a result of the weakening of the braking rope wrench adjustment knob, the hand brake lever travel could be prolonged gradually. Thus, the parking brake may not exert the necessary force in all situations.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/1405/17
The strength of the left front steering knuckle may be insufficient. As a result, the steering knuckle could break, affecting the control of the vehicle.
Recall of the product from end users