Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 7 model years and 4,166 tests, the Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd passes its MOT 81.4% of the time. That is 3.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.2%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests against 7.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, coil spring and headlamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 185 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Fortwo Pulse Mhd fails 12.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.8% at 120-150k, a spread of only 0.3 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Fortwo Pulse Mhd model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 41 | 75.6% | 24.4% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2009 | 340 | 78.2% | 21.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 921 | 79.5% | 20.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 552 | 81.2% | 18.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 660 | 82.4% | 17.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 1,648 | 83.0% | 17.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 443 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 290 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.8% | 242 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.8% | 201 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 173 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 148 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 90 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.2% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 185 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 157 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 145 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 143 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 131 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 124 |
| 7 | Stop lamp | 123 |
| 8 | Wipers | 98 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.1% | 1,045 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.7% | 820 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 326 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 245 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 205 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 170 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 639 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,909 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,248 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 327 | 24.2% |
| 120-150k | 34 | 11.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 837 | 16.3% |
| 2022 | 845 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 833 | 18.5% |
| 2024 | 822 | 19.5% |
| 2025 | 829 | 21.5% |
What to check before buying a Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.0% 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.
- Suspension (5.8% 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.
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 Mhd?
81.4% of the 4,166 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 18.6% fail rate, across model years 2008–2014.
What does the Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, then brakes (7.0%).
How much does mileage affect Fortwo Pulse Mhd MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 11.8% for 120-150k, a 0.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,166 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.