2011 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd passed 81.2% of its 552 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (23.2% fail rate), the 2011 Fortwo Pulse Mhd comes out 4.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests against 6.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, service brake performance and headlamp — position lamp alone was recorded 27 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.1% once past 90-120k — 2.1× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 66 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 37 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.4% | 30 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 26 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.5% | 25 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 23 |
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 | 27 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 25 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 21 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 21 |
| 6 | Wipers | 18 |
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 | 24.3% | 134 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.1% | 89 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.4% | 52 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.1% | 39 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 29 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 29 |
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 | 38 | 13.2% |
| 30-60k | 226 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 197 | 20.3% |
| 90-120k | 89 | 28.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 105 | 15.2% |
| 2022 | 116 | 17.2% |
| 2023 | 110 | 20.9% |
| 2024 | 116 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 105 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Fortwo Pulse Mhd
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.7% 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 (5.4% 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.
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 2011 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhds pass their MOT?
81.2% of the 552 2011 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by brakes (6.7%).
Does the 2011 Fortwo Pulse Mhd get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.2% in the 0-30k band to 28.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 552 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.