Smart Fortwo Pulse MOT pass rate & common failures
The Smart Fortwo Pulse appears in 1,832 MOT tests spanning model years 2009–2013, and 80.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 22.6% of the time, so this is 2.8pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests against 7.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 94 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.4% versus 16.7%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Fortwo Pulse model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 166 | 78.9% | 21.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 551 | 78.2% | 21.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 304 | 76.6% | 23.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 267 | 80.9% | 19.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 544 | 84.4% | 15.6% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 203 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.7% | 141 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.4% | 118 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 98 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.4% | 80 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 63 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 42 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 94 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 91 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 68 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 64 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 62 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 53 |
| 7 | Stop lamp | 47 |
| 8 | Tread depth | 45 |
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 | 23.7% | 435 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.8% | 400 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.3% | 170 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.6% | 139 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.2% | 114 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 77 |
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 | 180 | 16.7% |
| 30-60k | 715 | 16.8% |
| 60-90k | 657 | 22.7% |
| 90-120k | 228 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 34 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,409 | 20.3% |
| Petrol | 423 | 18.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 385 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 399 | 21.1% |
| 2023 | 361 | 17.7% |
| 2024 | 351 | 21.6% |
| 2025 | 336 | 20.2% |
What to check before buying a Smart Fortwo Pulse
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.7% 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 (6.4% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Smart Fortwo Pulse?
80.2% of the 1,832 Smart Fortwo Pulse MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 19.8% fail rate, across model years 2009–2013.
What does the Smart Fortwo Pulse most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, then brakes (7.7%).
How much does mileage affect Fortwo Pulse MOT results?
Fail rates run at 16.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 29.4% for 120-150k, a 12.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,832 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.