Smart Forfour Pulse (2005)

407 real MOT outcomes analysed • 69.7% first-time pass rate

2005 Smart Forfour Pulse

CarHunch analysed 407 real MOT records for the 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 10.3% below UK average
69.7%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
69,863
typical mileage
56,304–82,962 middle half
37.1%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
4.81
avg MOT failures per car
over 16.5 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 37.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Smart Forfour Pulse

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying

CarHunch may earn a small commission if you buy via these links — at no extra cost to you.

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (98%) 397 69.3% 4.9
Other (2%) 9 87% 0.78
LPG (0%) 1 73.3% 4

Mileage Distribution

Most 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

56,304
low mileage
69,863
typical
82,962
high mileage

Half of all 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse vehicles fall between 56,304 and 82,962 miles.

2005 Smart Forfour Pulse — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 54 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (15% of peak).

361 54 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

16.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.81
Avg failures per vehicle
18.8
Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Smart Forfour Pulse?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Smart Forfour Pulse:

2004 2006