Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2006 Smart Forfour Pulse?

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 Pulse?

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 Pulse?

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 Pulse vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

41% 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 Pulse reliable?

Based on MOT data from 105 vehicles, the 2006 Smart Forfour Pulse has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.3%, 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 Pulse?

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 Pulse (2006)

105 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.3% first-time pass rate

2006 Smart Forfour Pulse

CarHunch analysed 105 real MOT records for the 2006 Smart Forfour Pulse. 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 Compare Models

The 2006 Smart Forfour Pulse struggles at MOT time, with a first-time pass rate of just 71.2% — nearly 9 points below the UK average of 80%. More concerning, 40.9% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is significantly higher than typical and should weigh heavily in your buying decision.

At 66,230 miles average, these cars have covered moderate distance for their age, yet they're averaging 4.66 failures and 19.6 advisories per test, indicating persistent wear and maintenance issues across the fleet. If you're considering one, budget for repairs before purchase and have a pre-buy inspection focus on structural and safety components, given the dangerous defect prevalence.

We have limited data for the 2006 Smart Forfour Pulse — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

73.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

41%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.66

Over 16.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

65k

Middle half: 53k–75k

For context

These stats describe 105 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 105 Smart Forfour Pulse cars.

Before you buy a 2006 Smart Forfour Pulse

Based on MOT data from 105 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 41% 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 (96%)	101	72.8%	4.79

Mileage Distribution

Most 2006 Smart Forfour Pulse 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.

65,358

typical

53,217

low mileage

74,790

high mileage

Half of all 2006 Smart Forfour Pulse vehicles fall between 53,217 and 74,790 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 53,217 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.

✓ 53,217–74,790 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2006 Smart Forfour Pulses sit.

⚠ Over 100,966 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 Pulse — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 23% of 2006 Smart Forfour Pulses are still active.

Numbers are declining — 23 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (23% 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

16.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.66

Avg failures per vehicle

19.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2004 2005

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Compare with another model

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

Buyer beware — pass it on