2010 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 921 MOT tests, the 2010 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd recorded a 79.5% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), the 2010 Fortwo Pulse Mhd comes out 3.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.4%) and suspension (10.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, service brake performance and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 64 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.2% versus 17.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 96 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.0% | 92 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.4% | 68 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.8% | 44 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 35 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 30 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 64 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 48 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 39 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 31 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 30 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 28 |
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 | 24.1% | 222 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.2% | 168 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.1% | 130 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.3% | 58 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 45 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 33 |
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 | 64 | 17.2% |
| 30-60k | 391 | 21.0% |
| 60-90k | 354 | 21.2% |
| 90-120k | 99 | 21.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 198 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 197 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 180 | 19.4% |
| 2024 | 169 | 17.8% |
| 2025 | 177 | 21.5% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Fortwo Pulse Mhd
On a 2010 Fortwo Pulse Mhd, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.0% 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 (7.4% 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 2010 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhds pass their MOT?
79.5% of the 921 2010 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.4% of tests, followed by suspension (10.0%).
Does the 2010 Fortwo Pulse Mhd get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.2% in the 0-30k band to 21.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 921 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.