Does the Smart Forfour fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Smart Forfour records 14.20 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 10.96 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+3.24, 95% interval +3.04 to +3.45). It ranks 184 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Smart Forfour by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Smart Forfour is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 3,255 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 3,255 | 2.39 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 2,569 | 1.89 |
| Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 2,182 | 1.60 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 2,131 | 1.57 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,130 | 0.83 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 136,129 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Smart Forfour gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
36.5% of Smart Forfour MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 3,776 miles later (1,586 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,586 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Smart Forfour 2004 · Smart Forfour 2005 · Smart Forfour 2006 · Smart Forfour 2007 · Smart Forfour 2015 · Smart Forfour 2016 · Smart Forfour 2017 · Smart Forfour 2018 · Smart Forfour 2019 · Smart Forfour in Finland · Smart Forfour in the Netherlands · Smart Forfour by postcode area · Smart Forfour body, chassis and structure failures · Smart Forfour brakes failures · Smart Forfour vehicle identification failures · Smart Forfour noise, emissions and leaks failures · Smart Forfour road wheels failures · Smart Forfour seat belts and airbags failures · Smart Forfour steering failures · Smart Forfour suspension failures · Smart Forfour tyres failures · Smart Forfour visibility failures