2008 Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 253 MOT tests, the 2008 Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 recorded a 78.3% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (26.2% fail rate), the 2008 Fortwo Pulse 71 comes out 4.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.6% of all tests — 8.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 20 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2008 Fortwo Pulse 71 fails 22.6% of the time in the 30-60k band and 23.5% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.8% in 2021 to 22.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 42 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.3% | 21 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.7% | 17 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.1% | 13 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 12 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.0% | 10 |
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 | 20 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 13 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 12 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 9 |
| 6 | Wipers | 9 |
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 | 24.1% | 61 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.5% | 52 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.4% | 44 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.3% | 21 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 17 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 16 |
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 | 62 | 22.6% |
| 60-90k | 111 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 51 | 23.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 56 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 57 | 22.8% |
| 2023 | 51 | 17.6% |
| 2024 | 49 | 18.4% |
| 2025 | 40 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Fortwo Pulse 71
On a 2008 Fortwo Pulse 71, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.3% 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.
- Visibility (6.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2008 Smart Fortwo Pulse 71s pass their MOT?
78.3% of the 253 2008 Smart Fortwo Pulse 71 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Smart Fortwo Pulse 71?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by suspension (8.3%).
Does the 2008 Fortwo Pulse 71 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.6% in the 30-60k band to 23.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 253 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.