Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 appears in 366 MOT tests spanning model years 2007–2009, and 77.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.4% fail rate), the Fortwo Pulse 71 comes out 4.0pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.2% of all tests — 8.2 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 29 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Fortwo Pulse 71 fails 23.6% of the time in the 30-60k band and 25.6% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Fortwo Pulse 71 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 109 | 76.1% | 23.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 253 | 78.3% | 21.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 63 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.0% | 33 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.6% | 24 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.7% | 21 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 18 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.8% | 14 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 12 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 29 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 19 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 15 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 14 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 13 |
| 7 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 11 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 11 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 28.1% | 103 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.5% | 75 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.3% | 67 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 33 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.4% | 27 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 27 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 89 | 23.6% |
| 60-90k | 155 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 86 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 79 | 24.1% |
| 2022 | 84 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 75 | 18.7% |
| 2024 | 70 | 18.6% |
| 2025 | 58 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a Smart Fortwo Pulse 71
- Lighting & signalling (17.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (6.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Smart Fortwo Pulse 71?
77.6% of the 366 Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 22.4% fail rate, across model years 2007–2009.
What does the Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests, then suspension (9.0%).
How much does mileage affect Fortwo Pulse 71 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 23.6% for cars in the 30-60k band and 25.6% for 90-120k, a 2.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 366 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.