Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2005 Smart Forfour Passion?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2005 Smart Forfour Passion?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2005 Smart Forfour Passion?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2005 Smart Forfour Passion vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

38% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2005 Smart Forfour Passion reliable?

Based on MOT data from 501 vehicles, the 2005 Smart Forfour Passion has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2005 Smart Forfour Passion?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Smart Forfour Passion (2005)

501 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.9% first-time pass rate

2005 Smart Forfour Passion

CarHunch analysed 501 real MOT records for the 2005 Smart Forfour Passion. 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 Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2005 Smart Forfour Passion is notably less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 71.9% compared to 80%, and a worrying 37.5% of these cars have experienced dangerous defects at some point—making this a genuine concern for a secondhand buyer. The petrol engines show no advantage, sitting at 71.8% pass rate, indicating the problem is systemic to the model rather than fuel-type specific.

At 67,476 miles median mileage for an 19-year-old car, these Smarts are running relatively low miles, yet they're still accumulating an average of 4.73 failures and 20.8 advisories per test, suggesting poor build quality rather than wear-and-tear. Before buying one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on structural and suspension issues, since the high advisory count suggests wear patterns that catch many owners by surprise.

The 2005 Smart Forfour Passion has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.9% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

73.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

37.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.73

Over 17.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

67k

Middle half: 53k–82k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 20.8 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 501 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 501 Smart Forfour Passion cars.

Before you buy a 2005 Smart Forfour Passion

Based on MOT data from 501 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 37.5% 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 →
📄 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 Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	495	73.9%	4.76

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,134 Smart Forfour Passion vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 67.4%

764

Black 13.6%

154

Grey 10.7%

121

Red 2.8%

White 2.6%

Blue 1.9%

Orange 0.7%

Green 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2005 Smart Forfour Passion 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.

67,476

typical

53,341

low mileage

81,931

high mileage

Half of all 2005 Smart Forfour Passion vehicles fall between 53,341 and 81,931 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 53,341 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.

✓ 53,341–81,931 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2005 Smart Forfour Passions sit.

⚠ Over 110,606 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2005 Smart Forfour Passion — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 24% of 2005 Smart Forfour Passions are still active.

Numbers are declining — 107 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (24% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

17.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.73

Avg failures per vehicle

20.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Smart Forfour Passion: All Forfour Passion years → Which year to buy? →

2004 2006

Or browse all models: Smart →

Compare with another model

See how the 2005 Smart Forfour Passion stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on