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Smart (mcc) Forfour (2018)

3,894 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.3% first-time pass rate

2018 Smart (mcc) Forfour

CarHunch analysed 3,894 real MOT records for the 2018 Smart (mcc) Forfour. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Smart Forfour passes its MOT first time in 87.3% of cases, which is comfortably above the UK average of 80%, suggesting these are relatively well-maintained cars. However, nearly 23% have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is notably high and worth investigating on any used example you're considering.

At a median mileage of 24,681 miles for a six-year-old car, these Forfours are running light, which generally supports their strong pass rate. The average of 0.86 failures per vehicle is low, but the 4.8 advisories suggest minor wear items are accumulating—when viewing a specific car, ask the seller for a full MOT history and get a pre-purchase inspection to confirm no dangerous defects have been recorded.

The 2018 Smart (mcc) Forfour passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (87.3%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.
First-time pass
87.3%
UK average ~80%
Around average
Dangerous (ever)
22.8%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
0.86
Over 5.8 tests on record
Moderate
Typical mileage
25k
Middle half: 17k–34k
For context
✅ Good baseline reliability. A 87.3% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 4.8 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.
🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 3,894 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 3,894 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 39%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Brake wear 27.4%
Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Other issues 11.6%
COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
Exhaust & emissions 9.5%
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,894 Smart (mcc) Forfour cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2018 Smart (mcc) Forfour

Based on MOT data from 3,894 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 22.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
    Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
  • 🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection ClickMechanic →
  • 📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (96%) 3,726 87.2% 0.86
Electric (4%) 168 88.7% 0.71

Colour Breakdown

Based on 26,853 Smart (mcc) Forfour vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 38.2%
10,263
Silver 14.3%
3,843
White 13.6%
3,663
Grey 11.8%
3,167
Red 9.3%
2,503
Blue 5.9%
1,585
Yellow 3%
818
Orange 2.7%
727
Brown 0.5%
144
Green 0.4%
108
Gold 0.1%
19
Bronze 0%
13

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Smart (mcc) Forfour vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

24,681
typical
16,917
low mileage
34,132
high mileage

Half of all 2018 Smart (mcc) Forfour vehicles fall between 16,917 and 34,132 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
✓ Under 16,917 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.
✓ 16,917–34,132 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Smart (mcc) Forfours sit.
⚠ Over 46,078 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Smart (mcc) Forfour — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Smart (mcc) Forfours are still on the road.

Strong survival — 3,687 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

3,644 3,687 2021 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.8
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.86
Avg failures per vehicle
4.8
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Smart (mcc) Forfour: All Forfour years → Which year to buy? →
2004 2005 2006 2007 2015 2016 2017 2019

Or browse all models: Smart (mcc) →

Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Smart (mcc) Forfour stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?