Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2006 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 2006 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 2006 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 2006 Smart Forfour Passion vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

45% 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 2006 Smart Forfour Passion reliable?

Based on MOT data from 335 vehicles, the 2006 Smart Forfour Passion has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74.7%, 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 2006 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 (2006)

335 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.7% first-time pass rate

2006 Smart Forfour Passion

CarHunch analysed 335 real MOT records for the 2006 Smart Forfour Passion. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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

Moderate sample. 335 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2006 Smart Forfour Passion falls short of the UK average with a first-time pass rate of just 72.5% against the national 80%, suggesting more frequent MOT issues than typical for its age. More concerning, 44.5% of vehicles analysed have experienced a dangerous defect at some point, which is well above acceptable and should give any buyer pause.

These cars are running at a reasonable 66,500 miles median—typical for their age—but they're racking up serious maintenance needs with an average of 4.58 failures and 21.5 advisories per test, indicating ongoing wear and reliability problems. Before committing to one, have a trusted mechanic inspect the full MOT history and specifically check suspension, braking, and steering components, as these defects cluster on aging Forfours.

The 2006 Smart Forfour Passion has a below-average first-time pass rate (74.7% 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

74.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

44.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.58

Over 17.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

67k

Middle half: 54k–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 21.5 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 335 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 335 Smart Forfour Passion cars.

Before you buy a 2006 Smart Forfour Passion

Based on MOT data from 335 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 44.5% 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 (97%)	324	74.5%	4.67

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 2006 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.

66,552

typical

54,099

low mileage

81,575

high mileage

Half of all 2006 Smart Forfour Passion vehicles fall between 54,099 and 81,575 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 54,099 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.

✓ 54,099–81,575 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2006 Smart Forfour Passions sit.

⚠ Over 110,126 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2006 Smart Forfour Passion — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 34% of 2006 Smart Forfour Passions are still active.

Numbers are declining — 105 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (34% 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

17.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.58

Avg failures per vehicle

21.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2004 2005

Or browse all models: Smart →

Compare with another model

See how the 2006 Smart Forfour Passion stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on