2012 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd — MOT failures & pass rate
660 MOT tests on the 2012 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd are in this dataset, and 82.4% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 4.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.7% of all tests — 5.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, position lamp and tread depth — headlamp alone was recorded 28 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.1% versus 11.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 77 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.8% | 38 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.3% | 35 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.9% | 32 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.8% | 25 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 28 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 24 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 23 |
| 4 | Washers | 23 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 20 |
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 | 26.5% | 175 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.2% | 153 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 47 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.3% | 35 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 32 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 31 |
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 | 91 | 11.0% |
| 30-60k | 324 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 175 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 57 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 128 | 14.1% |
| 2022 | 136 | 19.1% |
| 2023 | 130 | 18.5% |
| 2024 | 138 | 18.8% |
| 2025 | 128 | 17.2% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Fortwo Pulse Mhd
On a 2012 Fortwo Pulse Mhd, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.8% 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.
- Tyres (5.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2012 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhds pass their MOT?
82.4% of the 660 2012 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Smart Fortwo Pulse Mhd?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by brakes (5.8%).
Does the 2012 Fortwo Pulse Mhd get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.0% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 660 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.