2009 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd — MOT failures & pass rate
340 MOT tests on the 2009 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd are in this dataset, and 78.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 3.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.4% of all tests — 5.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, service brake performance and headlamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 18 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.4% versus 17.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 31.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.9% in 2021 to 19.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 49 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.4% | 32 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.9% | 27 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.0% | 17 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 12 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 18 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 17 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 15 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 13 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 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 | Tyres | 31.2% | 106 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.4% | 100 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.8% | 57 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 28 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 23 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.5% | 22 |
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 | 34 | 17.6% |
| 30-60k | 117 | 23.1% |
| 60-90k | 170 | 22.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 67 | 19.4% |
| 2023 | 76 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 61 | 19.7% |
| 2025 | 63 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Fortwo Pulse Mhd
On a 2009 Fortwo Pulse Mhd, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.4% 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 (7.9% 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
How many 2009 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhds pass their MOT?
78.2% of the 340 2009 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by suspension (9.4%).
Does the 2009 Fortwo Pulse Mhd get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.6% in the 0-30k band to 22.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 340 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.